GB481108A - Process for the working up of products obtained by solvent extraction or mild hydrogenation of solid carbonaceous materials - Google Patents

Abstract

Extraction products of coal and other solid carbonaceous materials, after removal of ash, undecomposed coal and at least a part of the extracting agent, are separated into a wax fraction and an asphalt fraction by mechanical separation such as sedimentation or centrifuging. Products obtained by treating mineral coal, oil shale, peat or bituminous brown coal with solvents such as benzene, alcohol or tetrahydronaphthalene, with or without the addition of hydrogen under pressure, are used. In an example, finely ground coal is made into a paste with tetrahydronaphthalene, and then heated at 370 to 420 DEG C., under a pressure of 50 to 200 atmospheres. Water, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen or methane may be present. The product is freed from insoluble materials by pressure filtration and a part of the solvent is removed. A solvent for wax constituents such as esters, ethers or paraffinic hydrocarbons may be added. The mixture is then centrifuged at about 150 DEG C., to form asphalt and wax fractions. Separation may also be effected by cooling the hot extract slowly, for example over a period of 12 hours, when a lower asphaltic layer and an upper wax layer are formed. The asphalt fraction may be blown with air and used as a road asphalt, or hydrogenated to form a fuel oil. The wax fraction is treated with selective solvents and the purified product used for wax-containing compositions, for oxidation treatment; or by hydrogenation converted into lubricating oils, Diesel oils, illuminating oils, and by cracking these hydrogenated products converted into gasoline.