Studies of catalyst samples from a two-stage direct coal liquefaction run

Catalysts from the hydrotreating stage of a two-stage direct coal liquefaction run were characterized, and their residual catalytic activities for several functionalities were evaluated with model compounds. The catalyst samples, from each of two hydrotreating reactors in series, showed greater than 80% activity losses for all functionalities. Less carbonaceous deposits were present in the first reactor catalyst as compared to the second reactor catalyst, whereas the reverse was true for contaminant metal deposits, which were concentrated near the catalyst particles' exterior. Both carbonaceous and contaminant metal deposits caused deactivation due to covering of active sites.