CATALYTIC HYDROCRACKING OF AN ASPHALTENIC COAL RESIDUE

Catalytic hydrocracking of a residue from deasphalting a syncrude obta ined by direct coal liquefaction of a subbituminous Spanish coal was c arried out at different temperatures and reaction times. Kinetic study of the cracking reaction has been performed. The viscosity, coke cont ent, boiling point distribution, elemental analysis, and aromaticity o f the reaction products have been determined. The experimental data fi t with the first-order kinetic model proposed. The main effects observ ed with the thermal hydrotreatment have been a large decrease of the v iscosity of products that varies from 4608 cSt in the feedstock to 79 cSt. The conversion of the heavy fraction (bp > 350 degrees C and solu ble in toluene) increased with the temperature and residence time, and the formation of coke was inhibited even at the softest reaction cond itions used.