Reaction mechanism for the hydrogenolysis of coal-derived preasphaltene

Preasphaltene, prepared in advance from hydrogenation of Akabira coal, was further hydrogenated at 385 °C with a hydrogen initial pressure of 9.8 MPa for various reaction times. According to the structural analysis and the variation of the inert oxygen content of the remaining preasphaltene and the benzenesoluble product, it is concluded that the conversion of preasphaltene to asphaltene plus oil is principally the reaction of the splitting of ether linkages which reduces the polymerization degree and the saturation of the aromatic rings with hydrogen which increases the solubility in benzene.