Alumina plate-loaded ruthenium catalyst for coal liquefaction

To prevent the plugging of a catalyst bed in a fixed bed-catalyzed coal liq uefaction process. ruthenium loaded on an alumina plate catalyst is propose d. Coal slurry could pass through wide channels between plate type catalyst s without leaving residue or ash. The alumina plate was prepared by anodic oxidation of an aluminum plate, and then the ruthenium was loaded onto the alumina plate from aqueous ruthenium (III) chloride solution. In the liquef action of Tanito Harum coal with only the alumina plate in the absence of r uthenium, coal conversion of 49.4 wt% and oil yield of 29.7 wt% were obtain ed. The coal conversion and oil yield increased with the loading of rutheni um onto the alumina plate, and they reached maxima (conversion: 86.5 wt%, o il yield: 40.3 wt%) when 0.6 mmol of ruthenium was loaded. The ruthenium lo aded on an alumina plate exhibited higher activity for coal liquefaction th an ruthenium (Ru = 0.6 mmol, 5 wt%) loaded on alumina powder (conversion: 6 9.7 wt%, oil yield: 36.9 wt%). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.