Catalytic Hydrogenation and Heteroatom Removal for the Soluble Organics from Santanghu Bituminous Coal

Soluble organics (SBC-L) from Santanghu bituminous coal (SBC) were obtained by extracting the coal with a mixed solvent of CS₂ and acetone (<i>v</i>/<i>v</i>' = 1:1). Catalytic hydrogenation of SBC-L was carried out using isopropanol as the solvent and prepared bimetallic material (Ni-Mo/γ-Al₂O₃) as the catalyst, and the hydrogenation product (SBC-L_IP320) was obtained. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to compare the difference in the composition and distribution of SBC-L and SBC-L_IP320; thus, the effect of the used catalyst on the hydrogenation performance and heteroatom removal of SBC-L can be investigated. Results showed that the organic compounds in SBC-L and SBC-L_IP320 could be classified into aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHS), arenes, oxygen-containing organic compounds (OCOCs), nitrogen-containing organics (NCOCs), and compounds containing other heteroatoms (OHACOCs). The relative contents of AHS and arenes detected in SBC-L_IP320 were higher than those of SBC-L, while the contents of OCOCs, NCOCs, and OHACOCs decreased, and no S-containing compounds could be detected in SBC-L_IP320. It can be concluded that the prepared catalyst presents good de-oxygenation, de-sulfurization, de-nitrogenation, and hydrocracking performance.