Hydrocarbon Research, Inc.

Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated

William C Rovesti

Ronald H Wolk

Peter Maruhnic

Howard E Lebowitz

Seymour B Alpert

Norman C Stewart

An economical, efficient process is provided employing coal, particularly subbituminous coal, as a fuel source for the production of distillate fuels, methanol, and methane. A hydroliquefier is operated under severe conditions to provide a high net yield of light distillates which are separated by distillation. The vacuum residue, which is produced above, is transferred as a slurry to a partial oxidation gasifier where synthesis gas is produced as feedstock for methanol or methane synthesis. Gaseous hydrocarbon contaminants are separated and used to generate additional synthesis gas, or to supply other fuel requirements. No net heavy distillates are taken as a product, being used as a fuel or converted to other products.

Synthetic liquid fuels

Sulfur compounds contained in fuel gases produced from the gasification of coal or petroleum residua area removed at about 1600.degree. F temperature by contacting the gas with an absorbent material comprising a strong, macroporous particulate solid support containing molten metal carbonate, such as potassium carbonate, within its pores. Following such contacting and reaction of the sulfur compounds in the hot gas with the supported metal carbonate absorbent, it is regenerated by being contacted at high temperatures with steam and CO.sub.2 to remove the sulfur, which is recovered as H.sub.2 S. The metal carbonate absorbent material is reused by again contacting it with the hot fuel gas for sulfur removal, after which the sulfur-free fuel gas is burned in a combustion process such as a gas turbine to produce power.

Desulfurization of fuel gas at high temperature using supported molten

Sulfur compounds contained in fuel gases produced from the gasification of coal or petroleum residua are removed at above about 1600.degree.F temperature by contacting the gas with an absorbent material comprising a strong, macroporous particulate solid support containing molten metal carbonate, such as potassium carbonate, within its pores. Following such contacting and reaction of the sulfur compounds in the hot gas with the supported metal carbonate absorbent, it is regenerated by being contacted at high temperatures with steam and CO.sub.2 to remove the sulfur, which is recovered as H.sub.2 S. The metal carbonate absorbent material is reused by again contacting it with the hot fuel gas for sulfur removal, after which the sulfur-free fuel gas is burned in a combustion process such as a gas turbine to produce power.

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Columbia, SC, United States of America

William C Rovesti