Hydropyrolysis of a spanish lignite

Hydropyrolysis (Hypy) of a Spanish low rank coal in a preparative fixed bed reactor yields much more tar than pyrolysis (Py). The external hydrogen incorporated in the gas, tar and water yields is less than the total hydrogen incorporated in the products, as a result of more efficient extraction of hydrogen from char in a H2 atmosphere. The higher devolatilization rate in He and H2 occur at the same temperature, which coincides with an exothermic peak. These results show that the Hypy rate of low rank coals is controlled by the initiation steps of thermal decomposition, with the hydrogen in the role of stabilizing the primary radicals and allowing them to escape as volatile matter. © 1987.SCOPUS: ar.j