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U.S. Department of Energy
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Studies of coupled chemical and catalytic coal conversion methods. Ninth quarterly report, October, November, December 1989

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10175386· OSTI ID:10175386

A new base catalyzed C-alkylation reaction that employs a mixture of n-butyllithium and potassium t-butoxide in refluxing heptane to produce coal anions that are subsequently treated with n-alkyl halides at 0{degree}C has been developed. Almost quantitative pyridine solubilization was achieved by C-octylation of a Lower Kittanning coal, PSOC 1197. C-Octylation was less successful for the solubilization of bituminous Illinois No. 6 coal, APCSP 3, and subbituminous Wyodak coal, APCSP 2, which gave 35 and 33% soluble material, respectively. Their O-methyl derivatives yielded 43 and 20% soluble material in the same reaction. The observations are in accord with the concept of Ouchi and his associates that higher rank coals, although more aromatic in character, have a lower degree of polymerization than low rank coals. Relatively mild chemical reactions, such as Calkylation, that lead to modest changes in molecular dimensions, can disrupt intermolecular forces and accomplish solubilization.

Research Organization:
Chicago Univ., IL (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Link Foundation (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC22-87PC79938
OSTI ID:
10175386
Report Number(s):
DOE/PC/79938--T11; ON: DE92040284
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English