Novel aspects on coal liquefaction mechanism by the use of tritium and 35S tracer methods

This chapter discusses the effects of the addition of the catalyst––pyrrhotite––and sulfur on liquefaction of Taiheiyo coal using tritium and 35S. The hydrogen-exchange reaction between gas phase and solvent is promoted by added catalyst and sulfur. Using the pyrrhotite catalyst and by adding sulfur, the hydrogen addition to coal and liquefaction products increased. Added sulfur reacted mainly with the hydrogen of solvent to produce hydrogen sulfide. A part of added sulfur participated in the sulfur-exchange reaction with the pyrrhotite catalyst. Tritium tracer techniques are effective to trace the behavior of hydrogen atoms in coal liquefaction and gave quantitative information related to hydrogen exchange.