Catalytic pyrolysis of a coal tar in a fixed-bed reactor

• DOI: 10.1021/i200027a001
• Publication Date: 2005-03-10T02:33:14Z
• Authors: Wen Yang Wen; Edward Cain
• Keywords: 0211 other engineering and technologies; 02 engineering and technology; 7. Clean energy

The product yields from cracking a bituminous coal tar in a fixed-bed reactor were determined at various temperatures in the presence and absence of various packing materials. Some synthetic and natural zeolites showed strong catalytic activity, but those with small pore diameters were much less active. Linde zeolite LZ-Y82 was very effective in converting tar to chars and gases in the temperature range 400-500 C. Among the factors involved for catalytic effectiveness are: an effective pore size >0.7 nm; a large internal surface accessible to the tar vapor; and a large number of strongly acidic sites.