Extraction of brown coals from Kansk-Achinsk and Lena basins with toluene and water containing fluids

The conversion of different brown coals from the Kansk-Achinsk and Lena Basins in an aqueous medium and in toluene containing mixtures with water and tetralin additives was studied under supercritical conditions over the temperature range of 375-550 °C and at pressures from 7 to 40 MPa. It was found that the liquefaction of brown coals in the medium of toluene solvent with small amount of hydrogen-donor tetralin co-solvent effectively occurred at low temperature 400 °C. On the other hand, coal methanation, hydrolysis, and oxidation reactions with the predominant generation of methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen prevailed in the water containing mediums. In a supercritical toluene at 440 °C, the addition of a small amount of water (15 %) stimulated destruction of coals with the predominant production of liquid products and moderate gas yields. The use of calcium oxide, sodium hydroxide and hematite as the catalysts increased the yields of liquid products.