TITLE: Novel Experimental Studies for Coal Liquefaction: Quarterly Progress Report, April 1, 1987 to June 30, 1987.

AUTHOR: G. D. Holder;   Y. T. Shah;   J. W. Tierney.

INST.  AUTHOR: Pittsburgh Univ., PA.

SPONSOR: Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  1987,  53p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE87013506/INW

ABSTRACT:

In Task 1 of this project, the use of a slurry reactor for indirect coal liquefaction is being studied. Work is being done using three indirect liquefaction routes involving synthesis gas - the Fisher-Tropsch reaction, the one-step conversion to methanol, and the two-step conversion to methanol via methyl formate. Experimental work and data analysis for the two-step methanol synthesis in a single slurry reactor were continued during the quarter. Experimental work included the effect of the H sub 2 /CO ratio on the simultaneous reactions and measurements of the solubility of hydrogen and CO in methanol and methyl formate. Reaction rates obtained experimentally for the simultaneous system were compared with rates calculated from the individual reactions. The two-step methanol synthesis involves two reactions, and one of the reactants in each reaction is a gas. The carbonylation of methanol requires CO and the hydrogenolysis of methyl formate requires H sub 2 . The ratio of H sub 2 to CO is therefore a very important operating parameter, affecting the relative rates of the two reactions and the total methanol production rate. It may also affect the selectivity of the two reations. Two runs were made, one at a temperature of 121 sup 0 C and the other at 140 sup 0 C. All reaction conditions were constant except for the H sub 2 /CO ratio. The experimental procedure was the same as described previously. 61 refs. (ERA citation 12:044849)

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/71257-T11

CONTRACT  NUMBER: FG22-84PC71257