Abstract
The laws of thermal degradation of the mixture of the heavy fraction of low-temperature coal tar and coal shale were investigated using dynamic thermogravimetry. The kinetic characteristics of the process were determined using various methods, including the Ozawa–Flynn-Wall, Friedman, non-parametric kinetics and Šesták–Berggren methods. It is shown that coal shale initiated changes in the kinetic parameters and decomposition rate of the heavy fraction of coal tar. It was found that a 13% content of coal shale in the mixture led to the maximum rate of weight loss of the heavy fraction of coal tar. A hydrodemetallization kinetic model of the mixture of the heavy fraction of low-temperature coal tar and coal shale is proposed. The kinetic parameters of the hydrodemetallization process were determined; in addition, the rate constants at various temperatures were estimated. The study shows that the distribution of trace elements in the hydrogenate from the initial mixture and in the hydrogenate from the solid residue was characterized by relatively low values of reaction rate constants. The maximum microelement distribution rate was achieved in the hydrogenate solid residue. Energy indicators of activation processes indicated that hydrodemetallization at low temperatures is advantageous from an energy point of view.