Value-added utilization of hydroxy-substituted aromatics in coal-derived liquids

Separating hydroxy-substituted aromatics (HSAs) from coal-derived liquids (CDLs) are of great attraction and significance for clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient utilization of coal. In order to achieve the value-added utilization (VAU) of arenols, it is necessary to fully understand the types and processing methods of CDLs and arenols. This paper discusses in detail the types of CDLs and their arenols content, the formation mechanism, types, separation, and production methods of arenols. Subsequently, several strategies conducive to industrial development have been proposed for better VAU of HSAs in CDLs to increase the ongoing discussion on this topic.