Chemical characterization of liquefaction products of an inertinite enriched northern Alaska coals

Abstract

A Northern Alaskan coal rich in inertinites was further enriched by density gradient separations. The degree of condensation of the enriched coal was estimated to be low, mainly 3 ring. The reactivity of the inertinite enriched coal was determined by comparing yields from direct liquefaction with H2 at 0 and 30 minute residence times, 425°C, using an H-donor solvent in one case and moly-catalyst in the other with H2 pressures of 500 and 1000 psig respectively. Solid products were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy while the hexane solubles were separated into various chemical classes, viz. alkanes, neutral polycyclic aromatic compounds, hydroxy polycyclic aromatic oxygen heterocycles, and secondary, tertiary amino polycyclic aromatic compounds. The chemical compounds in these fractions were further analyzed by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS)an dcapillary gas chromatography. This work confirmed earlier data showing that inertinites are not as determinental to liquefaction as previously thought.