TITLE: Chemistry and Morphology of Coal Liquefaction. Quarterly Report, October 1-December 31, 1983.

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],  Dec 83,  26p.

ABSTRACT:

Work with unsupported iron oxide (Fe sub 2 O sub 3 ) catalysts has shown that prereduction in H sub 2 gives initial high activity, but gives rapid deactivation due to carbon and eventually graphite formation. Catalysts brought on stream with syngas and without prior reduction gradually increased in activity and reached a steady state activity lasting over extended periods of time. A study of the effects of support composition for Fe sub 2 O sub 3 catalysts on the composition of Fischer-Tropsch products has been completed. Synthesis activity decreases in the order TiO sub 2 > SiO sub 2 > Al sub 2 O sub 3 approx. = MgO. Catalysts with the lowest dispersions (TiO sub 2 and MgO supported) showed the highest probability of chain growth. Olefin/paraffin ratio and water gas shift activity decrease in the order MgO > SiO sub 2 > Al sub 2 O sub 3 > TiO sub 2 . Basic supports therefore seem to act like basic promoters. It has previously been shown that the production of hydrocarbons from KOH impregnated graphite and water at 800 exp 0 K is stoichiometrically limited by the formation of a phenolate type compound. Recent work has shown that this compound is decomposed in the presence of Fe sub 2 O sub 3 and that the production of hydrocarbons and hydrogen proceeds catalytically and for long periods of time. It has also been found that lithium hydroxide promoted the formation of hydrocarbons and hydrogen without the stocihiometric limitation observed with KOH, perhaps because of greater instability of lithium phenolate. A comparison between polymer-supported Wilkinson's catalyst and its homogeneous analogue in the selective hydrogenation of polynuclear heteroaromatic compounds provides evidence for differences in initial rates and ability to exchange aromatic hydrogens for deuterium. 4 references, 7 figures, 2 tables. (ERA citation 09:015804)

REPORT  NUMBER: LBL-17157

CONTRACT  NUMBER: AC03-76SF00098