The Coal-Hydrogenation Demonstration Plant at Louisiana, Mo.

The 200 to 300-bbl per day capacity demonstration plant hydrogenates coal at 700 atm pressure in two stages. First, coal paste is liquefied with finely divided iron catalyst at 525 atm hydrogen partial pressure, then the middle oil distillate is further hydrogenated in the vapor phase on fixed catalyst beds. The hydrogen is made by catalytic reforming of natural gas with steam.