Coal liquefaction process with controlled recycle of ethyl acetate- insolubles

摘要

A process for increasing the conversion of coal to ethyl acetate- soluble products comprising:PP(a) heating a slurry comprising a solvent and particulate coal in a dissolution zone to produce a first effluent slurry comprising ethyl acetate-soluble liquid components and ethyl acetate-insolubles;PP(b) contacting at least a portion of said first effluent slurry with hydrogen in a reaction zone in the presence of an externally-supplied hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions to produce a second effluent slurry which comprises ethyl acetate-soluble liquid components and ethyl acetate-insolubles, said ethyl acetate insolubles comprising organic components and inorganic components;PP(c) partitioning said ethyl acetate-insolubles in at least a portion of said second effluent slurry to provide a solids-rich fraction containing ethyl acetate-insolubles enriched in inorganic components and a solids-lean fraction containing ethyl acetate insolubles enriched in organic components; andPP(d) recycling at least a portion of said solids-lean fraction to said dissolution zone, said recycle stream containing ethyl acetate-insolubles in an amount (1) sufficient to increase substantially the conversion of said coal to ethyl acetate- soluble components and (2) insufficient to cause the hydrogenation fouling rate of said catalyst to exceed 0.3 C. per hour.