COAL-LIQUEFACTION MECHANISM USING A TRITIUM TRACER METHOD

To determine the behavior of hydrogen in tetralin, the reaction of tet ralin with tritiated gaseous hydrogen was studied in a flow reactor at 400-450 degrees C, 2.5-9.8 MPa for various residence times. The amoun t of hydrogen exchange between tetralin and tritiated hydrogen was est imated from the balance of hydrogen and tritium. Although yields of me thylindan and naphthalene, and the hydrogen-exchange ratio (HER) of te tralin increased monotonously with residence time, these values were s carcely influenced by the reaction pressure at every temperature. It w as thought that the formation of tetralyl radicals in this system woul d be the rate-determining step for both the conversions of tetralin in to methylindan and naphthalene, and the hydrogen exchange of tetralin. Conversions of tetralin into methylindan and naphthalene, and the hyd rogen-exchange reaction using the autoclave were very close to those u sing the flow reactor.