Coal conversion in co-processing with heavy petroleum residues

Point-of-Ayr coal was co-processed with a series of petroleum residues under both mild and severe reaction conditions. Hydrocracking conditions were chosen to optimise coal conversion, whilst the lower severity reactions were used to investigate the structural effects of processing. Under hydrocracking conditions, co-processing conversions varied with coal/oil ratio, with the optimum near 50/50. Bimetallic catalysts were found to enhance coal conversion. In a second series of experiments coal was co-processed with a petroleum enriched by the addition of petroleum asphaltenes: enhanced solubilisation was associated with increased asphaltene content. In the same series the fates of nitrogen and sulphur were also dependent on asphaltene loadings. © 1990.