Effect of the addition of n-alkylamines on catalytic and noncatalytic liquefaction of Indonesian Banko coal was studied. Significant increase in coal conversion to THF solubles was observed by the addition of the amines, particularly at the initial stage of liquefaction. The increase in conversion by the amine addition was due to the increase in preasphaltene (PAS) and asphaltene (AS). For n-alkylamines with different alkyl chain lengths, the conversion increased to a similar extent, but the product distribution was greatly different, i.e., the longer the alkyl chain of the amine, the more asphaltene and the less preasphaltene formed. The roles of n-alkyl amines in the liquefaction were discussed from their swelling and dissolution ability for coal. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.