Catalytic activity of FeMoNi ternary sulfide supported on a nanoparticulate carbon in the liquefaction of Indonesian coals

A series of ternary sulfide catalysts of Fe, Mo, and Ni supported on a nano particulate carbon, Ketjen Black (KB), have been shown to be as active as s ulfided Mo and Ni catalysts containing significantly greater quantities of Mo for the liquefaction of some Indonesian coals. Thus, it is possible to r etain a high catalytic activity when replacing some expensive Mo by cheap F e. Under the reaction conditions of 450 degreesC and 15 MPa of H-2 pressure at solvent (tetralin)/coal/catalyst weight ratios of 1/1/0.03, FeMoNi cata lyst (10% Fe, 5% Mo, and 2% Ni based on KB) provided an oil yield (wt %, da f) of 77% from liquefaction of Tanito Harum coal that is comparable to that obtained with NiMo (2% Ni and 10% Mo) supported on KB. It is found that Fe -based KB catalysts have the high activity even with a smaller amount of ex pensive Mo. The activity of the catalyst for hydrogenation of 1-methylnapht halene appeared to reflect the Mo content in the combination of Fe, Mo, and Ni on KB. The activity of FeMoNi/KB catalysts is slightly influenced by th e order of metal impregnation sequences in the catalyst preparation procedu re. The repeated use of the catalyst, recovered as a tetrahydrofuran-insolu ble fraction including ash and unconverted coal, still provided high oil yi eld, suggesting that bottom recycle may markedly reduce the amount of catal yst used in the coal liquefaction.