Characterization
and Refining Pathways of Straight-Run
Heavy Naphtha and Distillate from the Solvent Extraction of Lignite
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Abstract
Coal liquids were produced by solvent
extraction of Bienfait lignite
at 415 °C and 4 MPa H<sub>2</sub> for 1 h with a hydrotreated
coal tar distillate in a 2:1 solvent to coal ratio. Detailed characterization
was performed on four straight-run distillation fractions of the coal
liquids in the 120–370 °C boiling range. It was found
that the coal liquids contained very little aliphatic material. Most
of the compounds were aromatics, with aromatic compounds having no
alkyl substituents dominating the composition. The aromatic carbon
content increased with boiling fraction from 80 wt % in the 120–250
°C fraction to 94 wt % in the 343–370 °C fraction.
Major compounds identified in the coal liquids were acenaphthene,
phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene, which constituted 62 wt %
of the total product. The coal liquids also contained heteroatom species.
Interestingly, the nitrogen content did not monotonically increase
with an increase in boiling point. The maximum nitrogen content was
found in the 300–343 °C boiling fraction as a result of
a high concentration of carbazole. The refining pathways for transportation
fuel production were evaluated. It was found that the naphtha fraction
could be upgraded to a motor gasoline blending component just by hydrotreating.
No subsequent catalytic reforming was necessary because of the low
aliphatic content of the naphtha. The kerosene required severe hydrotreating
in order to be acceptable as a jet fuel blending component, mainly
because of the high dinuclear aromatic content of the straight-run
kerosene. The distillate made a poor feed material for diesel fuel
and required severe hydrotreating to achieve an acceptable cetane
number. In general, the coal-derived distillate would benefit from
ring opening to reduce its density. The prognosis for transportation
fuel production from the coal liquids was not favorable. The production
of aromatic chemicals was a better fit with the properties of the
coal liquids