Catalysis of SO42-/ZrO2 in the reactions of coal-related model compounds

In this paper, diphenylmethane, bibenzyl, phenetole and diphenyl ether were used as coal-related model compounds (CRMCs) to study the catalysis of SO42-/ZrO2 in the process of coal liquefaction. Based on the reaction kinetics of CRMCs in tetralin and identification of reaction products, the catalytic mechanisms of SO42-/ZrO2 for CRMCs were discussed. The results indicate that the CRMCs were mainly hydrocracked by SO42-/ZrO2. The conversion of tetralin solvent increased with the reactivity of CRMC. Reactions of tetralin mainly included hydrocracking, isomerization, alkylation and hydrogenation/dehydrogenation. A cationic reaction mechanism was proposed, which can successfully interpret the reaction of CRMCs and tetralin catalyzed by SO42-/ZrO2.