摘要 |
A process for liquefying coal comprises at least two stages which comprise: (a) heating a slurry comprising a solvent, particulate coal, and an externally supplied dispersed dissolution catalyst in the presence of hydrogen in a first reaction zone to substantially dissolve the coal and provide a first effluent slurry having a normally liquid portion comprising solvent and dissolved coal and containing undissolved solids and dispersed dissolution catalyst; and (b) contacting at least a portion of said normally liquid portion containing undissolved solids and dispersed dissolution catalyst with hydrogen in a second reaction zone in the presence of a second externally supplied hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions, including a temperature lower than the temperature to which said slurry is heated in step (a), to produce a second effluent slurry having a normally liquid portion. Preferably, the dispersed dissolution catalyst in the first hydrogenation zone is added as an emulsion of an aqueous soluble compound of a transition element from Groups IV-B, V-B, VI-B or Group VIII of the Periodic Table. The second catalyst can be a commercial hydrocracking or hydrotreating supported catalyst.
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