Molten salt hydroconversion process

Abstract

Hydrocarbonaceous materials such as petroleum residuums, coal, lignite or the like are introduced into a molten salt bath maintained in a reaction zone at elevated temperature and pressure. Hydrogen also is introduced into the reaction zone in an amount sufficient to provide a pressure in the reaction zone within the range of from about 30 to 400 atmospheres. The hydrocarbonaceous material is reacted for a time sufficient to produce cracked products including a major amount of liquid and a minor amount of gaseous and solid products of enriched hydrogen content. The molten salt bath comprises at least one alkali metal hydroxide which preferably is sodium hydroxide. Substantially all of the sulfur and ash constituents of the hydrocarbonaceous material are retained in the molten salt. When the hydrocarbonaceous material is a normally solid material such as coal, it advantageously is crushed and slurried in an organic hydrogen donor solvent prior to its introduction into the molten salt bath.