Coal hydrogenationIn 1952, the first large coal hydrogenation chemicals plant in the U.S. opened in Institute, W.Va. The Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Company plant was designed for conveting coal into chemicals. Coal was pulverized and mixed with oil to form a paste, then converted with heat and pressure to combine with hydrogen gas to form liquid chemical intermediate products. The yield included cresols, higher phenols, naphthalene and aromatic hydrocarbons. The $11 million plant processed up to 300 tons of coal a day. |