Present state of coal liquefaction technologies

Modern trends in producing liquid fuels from coals by gasification, Fischer-Tropsh synthesis, and direct hydrogenation in Russia and foreign countries are reviewed. Results of the latest investigations conducted at the Institute of Fossil Fuels at bench and pilot installations on upgrading the Russian technology of coal hydrogenation under a low hydrogen pressure (6–10 MPa) with using high-dispersity, so-called pseudohomogeneous catalysts, followed by hydrogenation of coal distillates to obtain ecologically friendly motor fuels are demonstrated. Qualitative characteristics of the resulting motor fuels in comparison with their oil analogs, as well as economic features of the above-mentioned processes are shown.