| abstract |
A process for recovering and upgrading products from solid coal by contacting the coal with a dense-water-containing fluid at a temperature in the range of from about 600 DEG F. to about 900 DEG F. in the absence of externally supplied hydrogen or other reducing gas and in the presence of a sulfur- and nitrogen-resistant catalyst. The density of water in the water-containing fluid is at least 0.10 grams per milliliter, and sufficient water is present to serve as an effective solvent for the recovered liquids and gases. |