Behaviour of tetralin in coal liquefaction

The decomposition of tetralin in the presence and absence of coal was investigated in batch-autoclave experiments. The effect of temperature, atmosphere and reaction time on tetralin dehydrogenation, isomerization and hydrocracking was studied. At 400 and 450 °C, coal accelerates the formation of 1 - methylindan and n-butylbenzene (as primary products) changing the tetralin into compounds with reduced hydrogen donor capacity. The 1 -methylindan and n-butylbenzene are subsequently (hydro)-cracked to smaller products. At low hydrogen pressure the conversion of tetralin into naphthalene and hydrogen becomes considerable, making uncertain the calculation of hydrogen transfer from the tetralin to the coal on the basis of tetralin/naphthalene ratios.