Catalysis of solid acid for the liquefaction of coal

Abstract: In order to study the catalysis of solid acid for the liquefaction of coal, a series of solid acids were synthesized by the method of precipitation–impregnation. The catalytic behaviours of the solid acids for the hydro-liquefaction of Shenhua coal and model compounds, such as diphenylmethane, bibenzyl and phenyl ethyl ether, were investigated. In addition, non-catalytic liquefaction and the catalytic liquefaction under N2 were further compared with the catalytic liquefaction under H2 in order to understand the catalytic mechanism of solid acid. The results indicate that hydro-liquefaction conversions of coal and model compounds are related to the strength, amount and nature of acid sites on the surface of , and the strong acid site responds to their catalytic activities. The solid acid catalyzes mainly the hydro-cracking, ring-opening and hydrogenation reactions of coal to produce oil and gas during the coal liquefaction. The hydro-cracking reactions in the liquefaction of model compounds and coal catalyzed by involved via carbenium ion intermediate instead of traditional radicals intermediate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]