Coal liquefaction process

Claim 2

A process for the liquefaction of coal, which comprises the steps of: (a) treating a slurry comprising coal and a hydrogen donor diluent with a gaseous mixture comprising at least 5 mole percent hydrogen sulfide for a period of time of at least 8 minutes at a temperature varying from about 343° C. to about 449° C., and a pressure ranging from atmospheric to about 5000 psig, and (b) subjecting at least a portion of the product resulting from step (a) to coal liquefaction conditions including a temperature ranging from about 450° C. to about 482° C. and a pressure ranging from about 350 psig to about 5000 psig, in a coal liquefaction zone, said portion of product comprising a gaseous phase and a liquid phase.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1, wherein said gaseous mixture comprises from about 5 to about 15 mole percent hydrogen sulfide.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein said gaseous mixture comprises from about 8 to about 10 mole percent hydrogen sulfide.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1, wherein said period of time of step (a) ranges up to about 15 minutes.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 wherein said gaseous mixture of step (a) also comprises hydrogen.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1 wherein said treatment of step (a) is conducted in the absence of added extraneous catalyst.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1 wherein said treatment of step (a) is conducted at a pressure ranging from about 500 psig to about 3000 psig.

Claim 9

The process of claim 1 wherein a hydrogen-containing gas is introduced into said coal liquefaction zone.

Claim 10

The process of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said hydrogen sulfide is removed from the treated product effluent prior to step (b).

Claim 11

The process of claim 1 wherein the product resulting from step (a) is separated into a gaseous phase and a liquid phase prior to said coal liquefaction step.

Claim 12

A process for the liquefaction of coal, which comprises the steps of: (a) treating a slurry comprising coal and a hydrogen donor diluent, in the absence of extraneous added catalyst, with a gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen and from about 8 to about 10 mole percent hydrogen sulfide for a period of time of at least about 8 minutes at a temperature varying from about 343° C. to about 449° C., and a pressure ranging from atmospheric to about 5000 psig and, (b) subjecting at least a portion of the product resulting from step (a) to coal liquefaction conditions including a temperature ranging from about 450° C. to about 482° C. and a pressure ranging from about 350 psig to about 5000 psig, in the presence of hydrogen, said portion of product comprising a gaseous phase and a liquid phase.

Claim 13

A process for the liquefaction of coal, which comprises the steps of: (a) treating a slurry comprising coal and a hydrogen donor diluent, in the absence of extraneous added catalyst, with a gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen and from about 8 to about 10 mole percent hydrogen sulfide for a period of time of at least about 8 minutes at a temperature varying from about 343° C. to about 449° C., and a pressure ranging from atmospheric to about 5000 psig and, (b) subjecting at least a portion of the product resulting from step (a) to coal liquefaction conditions including a temperature ranging from about 450° C. to about 482° C. and a pressure ranging from about 350 psig to about 5000 psig, in the presence of hydrogen, said portion of product comprising a gaseous phase and a liquid phase.

Claim 14

The process of claim 11 wherein the product resulting from step (a) is separated into a gaseous phase and a liquid phase prior to said coal liquefaction step.

Claim 15

A process for the liquefaction of coal, which comprises the steps of: (a) treating a slurry comprising coal and a hydrogen donor diluent with a gaseous mixture comprising at least 5 mole percent hydrogen sulfide for a period of time of at least 8 minutes at a temperature varying from about 343° C. to about 449° C., and at a pressure ranging from atmospheric to about 5000 psig, (b) separating the product resulting from step (a) into a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, and (c) subjecting at least a portion of said liquid phase to coal liquefaction conditions.

Claim 16

A process for the liquefaction of coal, which comprises the steps of: (a) treating a slurry comprising coal and a hydrogen donor diluent with a gaseous mixture comprising at least 5 mole percent hydrogen sulfide for a period of time of at least 8 minutes at a temperature varying from about 343° C. to about 449° C., and at a pressure ranging from atmospheric to about 5000 psig, (b) separating the product resulting from step (a) into a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, and (c) subjecting at least a portion of said liquid phase to coal liquefaction conditions.

Claim 17

The process of claim 13 wherein said coal liquefaction conditions include a temperature ranging from about 400° to 538° C., and a total pressure ranging from about 350 to about 5000 psig.