INFLUENCE OF THE POROUS TEXTURE OF COALS ON THEIR HYDROGENATION PROCESSES CATALYZED BY FE

Nine coals from Spanish, British, German, and American mining basins w ere hydrogenated using Fe catalyst precursors (red mud and FeSO4), wit hout solvent at 300, 350, and 400 degrees C and 10 MPa of H-2. Overall conversion and product distribution are related to the textural chara cteristics of the original coals and are studied throughout the distin ct hydrogenation processes. Results reveal that with FeSO4 as a cataly st precursor, conversions increase with coal surface area. However, wh en red mud (RM) is used, conversions are independent of coal textural characteristics. Higher conversions are obtained with FeSO4 than with RM at 300 and 350 degrees C whereas at 400 degrees C higher conversion s are obtained with RM. This different catalytic activity is also refl ected in the changes of the textural characteristics observed in each case. Up to 350 degrees C, the residues from FeSO4-catalyzed processes reveal increased microporosity destruction and a greater increase in meso- and macropore volume. At 400 degrees C, however, both these effe cts are greater for RM.