Published December 1976
This report concerns the recovery and purification or refining of by-product chemicals from high temperature carbonization of coal. Process designs and cost estimates are given for coal tar fractionation, refining of light oil to produce BTX aromatics (benzene, toluene, and xylenes), refining of naphthalene, and extraction of tar acids (phenol and homologs). A review of the processes for recovering tar bases (Pyridine and homologs), anthracene, and carbazole from coal tar is also included. Applications of coal tar for nonchemical purposes such as roofing, road paving, and wood preserving are excluded.
PEP Reports 30 and 30A (Aromatics BTX) dealt principally with processes for making these compounds from petroleum sources. PEP Reports 49 and 49A1 (Cresols and Cresylic Acid) discuss the economics of cresol recovery from coal tar as well as its synthesis. Therefore, the technology and processes of these previous reports are not directly comparable with those based on coal carbonization and gasification which are discussed in this report.
