In order to develop the suitable catalyst for hydroconversion of coal and heavy materials, possibility of high quality catalyst production from iron sulfates was pursued on the hydroconversion of 1-methylnaphthalene (1-MN) and 4-(1-naphthylmethyl) bibenzyl (NMBB) with iron sulfates in the absence and presence of sulfur (S) at 350℃. Catalystic activity of ferrous sulfate was very low in the absence of S. The activity of ferrous sulfate was dramatically increased with addition of enough S for the hydrogenation of 1-MN and hydrocracking of NMBB. The activity of ferric sulfate, however, did not increase with addition of S. Ferrous sulfate is revealed one of useful catalyst precursors for hydroconversion of heavy aromatic hydrocarbons.
