PEMANFAATAN RESIDU KILANG MINYAK PLAJU SEBAGAI PELARUT PADA PROSES PENCAIRAN BATUBARA (Co-Processing)

Abstract

This study presents the investigation on the reactivity of vacuum oil residue
(VOR) as solvent in Banko coal liquefaction, so called “Co-processingâ€. Process
solvent derived from BSU tests is used as reference solvent in this study. The
liquefaction tests are carried out using a gas-flow type autoclave (5L) with 200g
coal (daf), 400g of coal-derived solvent (b.p.300-420 oC), 1.0-3.0 wt% daf as Fe
of catalyst and elemental sulfur (S/Fe atomic ratio of 2.0) at 14.7MPa, 450oC for
60min under a constant gas flow of H2-0.5%H2S. The study suggests that VOR
as solvent is much more reactive than process solvent under the same condition.
Therefore the co-processing gives higher oil yield than coal liquefaction using
process solvent derived from BSU tests. It also produces lower CLB, CO+CO2
and hydrocarbons yields. This indicates that there is a synergism effect between
the VOR as a donor solvent and the coal. The molecular structure of VOR at the
first time was decomposed into molecular fragments. These fragments were then
attached onto the coal’s structure and lead to decompose the structure of the
coal. It was also found that co-processing consumed less hydrogen gas than
reference liquefaction process. In short, this finding obtained in this study can
give promising sight for implementing the coal liquefaction plant in Indonesia at a
commercial scale.
Kata kunci: vacuum oil residue, Banko, liquefaction, co-processing reactive,
synergism effect