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A contemporary coal liquefaction product from the Wilsonville pilot plant was processed to make two diesel test fuels for engine research. A naphtha fraction was separated by distillation, and the diesel fraction was upgraded by hydrogenation. Processing objective was to make two stable products with acceptable ignition quality. A trial run was made over a range of pressures and residence times to establish minimum severity to meet the objective. About 85 gallons of product was made at minimum severity and 81 gallons at slightly higher severity. The products resembled petroleum diesel fuels except for marginally high viscosity and low accelerated stability. Product characterizations included 30.1 and 35.4 cetane number.

Seven test fuels were provided to research projects in the Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Utilization Program. Currrent refining technology was applied for conversion of shale- and coal-derived feedstocks to gasolines, diesel fuel, and turbine fuel. Hydrogenation was used in all four processing sequences, supplemented by catalytic reforming, distillation, and blending as needed to meet the product objectives. Major operating conditions are described for each process step. Laboratory analyses are provided for feedstocks, intermediates, and final products.