Abstract: A process for converting coal to an oil fraction, which comprises subjecting coal to a first hydrogenation reaction, deashing the reaction product of the first hydrogenation reaction and subjecting the deashed liquefied oil to a second hydrogenation reaction, wherein coal, a solvent and hydrogenation-treated heavy oil components are supplied for the first hydrogenation reaction; from the first hydrogenation reaction product, at least a part of the oil fraction is obtained; from the first hydrogenation reaction product, a substantial amount of preasphaltene components is removed simultaneously with or independently of the deashing operation, and the deashed liquefied oil containing heavy oil components and not greater than 20% by weight of preasphaltene components thereby obtained, is supplied for the second hydrogenation reaction; from the second hydrogenation reaction product, an oil fraction and heavy oil components are separated and the heavy oil components are recycled to the first hydrogenation reaction

Abstract: A method for hydrogenating a solvent-refined coal, comprising:(a) hydrogenating coal in the presence of a hydrocarbon solvent and an iron catalyst;(b) obtaining a solvent-refined coal material therefrom, which has a boiling point of at least 400.degree. under atmospheric pressure conditions;(c) removing preasphaltenes from said solvent-refined coal material to obtain a substantially preasphaltene free solvent-refined coal; and(d) hydrogenating the solvent-refined coal in a fixed bed under hydrogen pressure.

Abstract: A method for hydrogenating a solvent-refined coal by heating it under hydrogen pressure in a fixed bed, characterized in that a solvent-refined coal fraction containing no substantial amount of preasphaltene is used as the solvent-refined coal.

Abstract: A process for converting coal, comprising, subjecting a slurry composed essentially of coal, a hydrocarbon solvent and a hydrogenation catalyst to primary hydrogenation to liquify the coal, separating the ash content of said coal from the reaction product thereby obtaining a liquified product, subjecting at least a portion of the liquified product to secondary hydrogenation in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst thereby converting the liquified product to light oil product, the secondary hydrogenation step being a point of supply of hydrogenation catalyst to the coal conversion system, separating the hydrogenation catalyst from the reaction product of the secondary hydrogenation step, and returning said separated hydrogenation catalyst to the primary hydrogenation step where it is used as the catalyst for primary hydrogenation of said slurry.

Abstract: A porous refractory inorganic oxide product is produced by shaping a mixture of carbon black and a refractory inorganic oxide and/or a precursor of refractory inorganic oxide; drying a product; firing it in an oxygen-containing gas flow while burning said carbon black.

Abstract: A hydrogenation catalyst for desulfurization and removal of heavy metals, comprises (a) at least one metal component selected from metals of Groups VI B and VIII of the Periodic Table, as a catalytically active component, and (2) a porous activated alumina carrier obtained by shaping a mixture of carbon black and a powder of activated alumina or a precursor of activated alumina, drying the shaped mixture and firing it in an oxygen-containing gas stream to burn off the carbon black.