Method of solvent extraction of coal by a heavy oil

Claim 1

A process for the production of hydrogen-enriched hydrocarbonaceous products from hydrocarbonaceous materials which comprises: (a) commingling coal and a crude petroleum oil containing asphaltenes and heavy oils in amount such that at least 80% of the crude boils above 650° F.; (b) subjecting the resultant mixture to conversion together with a hereinafter described liquid recycle stream containing finely divided, unsupported metal catalyst in which the metal is selected from the group consisting of the elements from Groups IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB and VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements and mixtures thereof in a reaction zone at a temperature from about 55° F. to about 950° F. and a hydrogen pressure from about 500 psig to about 10,000 psig to liquefy at least a portion of said coal and to reduce the asphaltene content of said oil; (c) separating gas from the resultant reaction zone effluent; (d) then solvent deashing at least a portion of the reaction zone effluent with a relatively low molecular weight hydrocarbon solvent to separate therefrom a heavy liquid phase containing substantially all of the ash, unconverted coal, asphaltenes, relatively high molecular weight hydrocarbons and finely divided, unsupported metal catalyst; and (e) supplying at least a portion of said heavy liquid phase to the reaction for use as said liquid recycle stream in the aforesaid step (b).