TITLE: Chemistry and Morphology of Coal Liquefaction. Quarterly Report, April 1-June 30, 1981.

AUTHOR: H. Heinemann.

INST.  AUTHOR: California Univ., Berkeley. Lawrence Berkeley Lab.

SPONSOR: Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  Jun 81,  24p.

ABSTRACT:

In studying product distribution of a Fischer-Tropsch reaction over copper- and potassium-promoted iron catalysts as a function of CO conversion, it was found that relative methane formation declines with increasing conversion. The potassium catalysed reaction of graphite and steam to produce methane and CO sub 2 at low temperatures (250 exp 0 C) was further investigated and activation energies were determined. It was shown that potassium as KOH and as K sub 2 CO sub 3 , is catalytically effective and that impregnation of the graphite is as effective as surface deposition of K. Other alkali oxides are being investigated. It is hoped that this work may eventually lead to production of higher hydrocarbons.  Electron microscope investigations of the potassium-promoted graphite, used in the conversion to methane described clearly show the progressive gasification of the carbon along the graphite-potassium interface.  Reaction of hetero-atom containing aromatic model compounds with hydrogen in the presence of homogeneous ruthenium catalysts and a base gave quantitative hydrogenation of the hetero-atom containing ring, without hydrogenation of other rings. Similar results were obtained with homogeneous manganese catalysts and with synthesis gas or with the water-gas shift reaction. If further confirmed, this can be of major importance in reducing the hydrogen requirements of coal liquid hydrocracking. (ERA citation 07:042084)

REPORT  NUMBER: LBL-12964

CONTRACT  NUMBER: W-7405-ENG-48