Low severity coal liquefaction promoted by cyclic olefins. Quarterly report, July--September 1996

The goal of this research is to develop a methodology for analyzing the reactivity of cyclic olefins in situ in a high temperature and high pressure infrared cell. Cyclic olefins, such as 1,4,5,8-tetrahydronaphthalene (isotetralin) and 1,4,5,8,9,10-hexahydroanthracene (HHA), are highly reactive donor compounds that readily donate their hydrogen to coal and model acceptors when heated to temperatures of 200 C and above. These donors are active donors in the low severity liquefaction of coal at 350 C as shown in the research performed in this project. The infrared studies are being performed in a high temperature infrared cell that was obtained from AABSPEC. Modifications to that cell have been made and have been reported in previous progress reports. The useful temperature range of the high temperature infrared cell has been extended to 230 C through the use of a high-boiling perfluorocarbon solvent. High temperature infrared analyses have been performed using isotetralin, tetralin, naphthalene, 1,4-dihydronaphthalene and 1,2-dihydronaphthalene. Stability studies have shown that naphthalene was quite stable at temperatures up to 230 C, as were tetralin, decalin and 1,4-dihydronaphthalene. High temperature FTIR analysis of isotetralin and 1,2-dihydronaphthalene reacted at elevated temperatures forming tetralin and 1,4-dihydronaphthalene, respectively. The results of stability studies are reported