Effects of the amount of iron based catalysts and reaction temperatures on the liquefaction of Taiheiyo coal was investigated with respect to hydrogen transfer to the products. The catalysts used were FeS2 and a sulfate promoted iron oxide (Fe-sulfate). Amounts of the catalysts were varied in the range of 0.4% to 19% to coal and reaction temperatures were changed between 648K and 723K. Conversions of coal was independent upon kinds of catalyst. Futhermore, the reaction temperature of around 698K was found to be better for both catalysts. On the basis of the hydrogen transfer to the products, it was found that the reaction products obtained at a lower or a higher temperature contained higher aliphatic fraction and higher aromatic fractions, respectively. Another findings were observed in the results on effect of amounts of catalysts. The FeS2 catalyst required more than 8 wt% to coal in order to promote the liquefaction reaction effectively, but the amount of Fe-sulfate catalyst was much smaller. Optimum amount of the Fe-sulfate catalyst was found to be about 2% to coal with respect to effective liquefaction reaction of coal.
