Heteroatom removal from coal-derived light oil and its effect on catalytic reaction

A zeolite catalyst showed high hydrocracking activity in a two stage upgrading process of coal-derived distillate. However, the zeolite was easily poisoned by the adsorption of heterocyclic compounds such as quinolines and carbazoles present in coal-derived light oil and lost its catalytic activity considerably. The removal of the heterocyclic compounds before hydrocracking was carried out by a combination of acid and base treatments, followed by washing of salts. Incorporated treatment of coal-derived distillate with acid in the two stage hydroprocessing resulted in the great increase of gasoline yield in the products.