Coal liquefaction technologies—Development in China and challenges in chemical reaction engineering

With fast increasing demand in liquid transportation fuels, limited and unevenly distributed petroleum resources, and volatile petroleum prices, coal liquefaction technologies have again received the world's attention since the beginning of this century. China has actively pursued R&D of coal liquefaction technologies in the past decade and is deploying the first and the largest direct coal liquefaction plant since WWII and the largest indirect coal liquefaction plants after Sasol, South Africa. This paper analyzes the historical developments of coal liquefaction technologies from science point of view, presents recent developments of the technologies in China, and identifies challenges of the technologies towards successful industrial application.