COPROCESSING OF A SUB-BITUMINOUS COAL WITH LIQUID FRACTIONS DERIVED FROM ATHABASCA BITUMEN

Experimental studies on the coprocessing of a subbituminous coal with liquid fractions derived from Athabasca bitumen are described. The rea ctions were carried out in a batch autoclave under hydrogen pressure a t reaction temperatures varying from 400 to 440 degrees C. Net coal co nversion was higher and coke formation was lower when the coal was pro cessed with the Pentane soluble maltene fractions compared to that obt ained with the virgin bitumen. Among the maltene fractions, the polyar omatics provided the highest liquid yield, followed by the mono/di aro matics. The polyaromatics also provided the highest coke yields. The s aturates provided the highest gas yields and the lowest liquid yields. H/C ratio of various products were the highest when the polyaromatic fractions were used as the solvent.