Direct Conversion of Lignite to Chemical Feedstock Via a Combination of Molten Salt Catalysis and Solvent Refining Technologies. Final Report

摘要

A combination of molten salt catalysis and solvent refining technologies was used to study the direct conversion of lignite into chemical feedstocks using a batch autoclave (450 exp 0 C, 3000 psig, 15 min). Variables included reducing gases (hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or syngas), water sources (wet lignite, dry lignite, or lignite plus added water), and the addition of alkali metal (lithium, sodium, or potassium) halides (chloride, bromide, or iodide) to the zinc chloride catalyst. Based on yields of oils plus vapors, asphaltenes, and asphaltols, carbon monoxide was unsatisfactory; potassium and sodium were superior to lithium; potassium was best using the iodide, hydrogen, and dry lignite plus added water; and sodium was best using the bromide, syngas, and dry lignite plus added water. Yields of hydrocarbon gases were very small; a comparison with earlier tests suggests either subbituminous coal (Colstrip) is more reactive than lignite (Savage) or differences in coal-catalyst contacting between the two series of tests may be significant. (ERA citation 05:006430)