Ten kinds of catalysts were applied to the hydrogenolysis reactions of coal model compounds at 653 and 693K, and the specific behavior of the catalysts and the effect of temperature on them were discussed. Diphenylmethane, dibenzyl, diphenyl ether and four kinds of condensed aromatics were employed. Adkins' catalyst was highly active, especially in hydrogenating aromatic nuclei at 653K. However, its catalytic effect did not increase at 693K. ZnCl2 and Fe2O3 did not show catalytic activity practically for most of the model compounds and seemed to re-tard the cleavage of C-C and/or C-O bonds. On addition of sulphur, the activity of Fe2O3 increased at 653K, but it decreased significantly at 693K. This tendency was also observed for MoS3, and the fact was noted as a characteristic of the catalysts containing sulphur. MoO3-TiO2 was the most active among the catalysts employed. MoO3-Al2O3 and MoO3-Fe2O3-SnO2 were also active for hydrogenolysis of diphenylmethane and diphenyl ether. NiO-SiO2-Al2O3 could activate hydrogen by an action of Ni and also to cleave C-C bonds as the result of the acidic character of the carrier.
