Co-liquefaction of a Chinese bituminous coal with bagasse - a biomass waste
- has been carried out in an autoclave of 300-ml capacity at a temperature
range of 350-450 degreesC, reaction time 15-45 min and cool hydrogen press
ure 300-700 psig (2.04-4.76 MPa). The addition of baggasse and tetralin are
beneficial to liquefaction. Optimization of the co-liquefaction process wa
s carried out with respect to oil yield by the Factorial Experiment Design
Method. The oil yield reached 48% at optimum conditions of temperature 420
degreesC, cool hydrogen pressure of 500 psig and reaction time of 40 min. A
polynomial mathematical model-second order response surface model has been
obtained for correlating the oil yield response factor as well as conversi
on with the major process variables. The equation derived by us holds well
in determining the effect of process variables on response factors for any
regime condition in the range of our experimental design within +/- 5%. (C)
2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.