Abstract
Asphaltene is an intermediate product in coal hydroliquefaction. The properties of asphaltene exert a considerable influence on the various aspects of the primary coal hydroliquefaction products and on the reactivity of the primary product in further processing. In Part I the definition of asphaltene and methods for its separation and in Part II the chemical structure of asphaltenes were reviewed. In Part III the reactivity of asphaltenes to thermal treatment and hydrogenation are reviewed in the light of the structures of the products of these two reactions.
