INFLUENCE OF HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSTS ON T HE COPROCESSING OF BERGUEDALIGNITE WITH A VACUUM RESIDUE

Seven different heterogeneous catalysts are tested for the catalytic c oprocessing of a Catalan lignite with vacuum residue under atmosphere of hydrogen. Four of these catalysts were iron-based catalysts support ed on gamma-alumina with increasing loading of iron oxide. The fifth w as a bimodal catalyst of iron and molybdenum. The last two catalysts w ere commercial hydrotreatment catalysts. Also, tests were conducted wi th gamma-alumina and without catalyst. The experimental results show t hat the catalytic performance of these catalysts is modified by the hi gh level of mineral matter present in this lignite. The highest values of coal conversion are obtained without catalyst and with the catalys ts containing the highest loading of iron. However, the increase of th e percentage of iron does not produce considerable influence on both c oal conversion and production of oils. The conversion in oils increase s with the hydrotreatment catalysts, though the quality of the product s yielded is not much better than that obtained with other catalysts.