| abstract |
Coal or other hydrogen-deficient carbonaceous materials are reacted with steam to produce methane, higher hydrocarbons, and/or oxygenated products. Provision is made for the alkali capture of liberated sulfur compounds, along with partial conversion in a heated pretreatment section. The further processing involves either catalytic conversion in a multiphase reactor-contactor using a methanation or Fischer-Tropsch type catalyst, or additional conversion in holdup and backup sections followed by methanation or Fischer-Tropsch type syntheses. Systems are provided for regenerating the alkali and recovering sulfur, for recovering other compounds, and for activating and regenerating the methanation or Fischer-Trosch type catalyst in place or in an external regenerator. Methods are also provided for recovering, reconstituting, and reactivating catalyst carryover. |