Catalytic hydrotreating of coal liquids

Liquids obtained by direct hydrogenation of a Spanish subbituminous coal have been ‘up-graded’ by catalytic hydrotreatment. The catalysts used were a commercially available Ni-Mo catalyst and a nickel hydrous titanate catalyst prepared in this laboratory. Liquid products were analysed for: oil, asphaltene and preasphaltene formation, elemental analysis, boiling range distribution, aromaticity (1H n.m.r. and FT-i.r.) and heteroatom removal. The results indicated that the upgraded liquids exhibited lower aromaticity and lower heteroatoms content than raw liquids. HT-400E catalyst displays the best behaviour, as regards hydrogenation and oil formation. On the removal of nitrogen and sulphur, both catalysts show a high efficiency, HT-400E catalyst being more efficient. The utilization of nickel hydrous titanate catalyst produces liquids of lower aromaticity.Peer reviewe