Alcohols as H-donor media in coal conversion. 1. Base-promoted H-donation to coal by isopropyl alcohol
✍ Scribed by David S. Ross; James E. Blessing
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1979
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 579 KB
- Volume
- 58
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0016-2361
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✦ Synopsis
Isopropyl alcohol can act as a hydrogen donor to coal, as can tetralin. In contrast to tetralin, however, the transfer of hydrogen by the alcohol can be promoted by the presence of either potassium isopropoxide or KOH. Acetone is formed from the alcohol in quantities that accord with the amounts of hydrogen transferred to the coal. In runs at 335'C for 90 min, coal was converted with isopropyl alcohol in the presence of either the alkoxide or KOH to a fully pyridine-soluble product with H/C ratios from 0.88 to 1.13, in contrast to coal (0.79). The organic sulphur content of the coal was reduced from 2.1% to 1%. Model-compound studies with anthracene and diphenyl ether showed that the anthracene was reduced in the system to 9,lOdihydroanthracene, but the ether was recovered unchanged. The coal products from the alcohol/base treatment are very rich in aliphatic hydrogen and have number-average molecular weights in the 450-500 range. The scheme suggested to explain the conversion at 335°C includes initial hydrogenation of anthracene-like structures in the coal, followed by thermolysis of the dihydro-intermediate.