Current status of the hydrogenation of coals

The theoretical and experimental studies carried out at the Institute for Fossil Fuels during recent years in the modernization of hydrogenation technologies for coal conversion into a liquid fuel under low hydrogen pressure (10 MPa for bituminous coals and 6 MPa for a number of brown coals) are surveyed. These studies are based on the advances of catalysis science and on the current concepts of the hydrogenation of organic compounds and coal multimer. The capacity and cost efficiency of a coal chemical enterprise in the commercialization of the technology are substantiated.