DIRECT CTL: Innovative analyses for high quality distillates

Distillate liquid yields from high hydrogen pressure catalytic conversion of coal processes, called Direct Coal Liquefaction (DCL), are typically high at 4–5 bbl/T coal on a dry ash free basis for the best available DCL processes, making them an attractive option to produce transportation fuels from coal. These yields are significantly higher than using the so called Indirect Coal to Liquid (ICL) route, i.e. gasification plus Fisher Tropsch (FT) synthesis. Nevertheless, DCL products are often considered as relatively low quality products and their chemical structure is not well known.This work focuses on the physical/chemical standardized analyses and innovative detailed characterization of the properties and the unique composition of jet fuel and Diesel cuts obtained by DCL before and after hydroprocessing. It shows that 100% high quality fully desulfurized Jet A, Jet A-1 or JP-8 aviation fuels can be obtained when using the appropriate hydrocracking conditions. It also shows that the Diesel cut obtained from the same upgrading process can be used as a high quality component for transportation fuels with less than 5 ppm sulfur, exhibiting a very specific chemical structure that is accompanied by excellent cold flow properties and good combustion characteristics. This innovative detailed characterization of hydroprocessed DCL jet fuel and Diesel cuts was provided using a GC × GC method developed within the IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) laboratories.