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Separation of macerals from subbituminous coals and their response to liquefaction

Journal Article · · Liq. Fuels Technol.; (United States)

Separation of macerals from three Alberta subbituminous coals was investigated using float-and-sink method with dense liquids followed by the density gradient technique proposed by Dyrkacz and co-workers at Argonne National Laboratory, USA Resolutions of 90 percent or greater purity were obtained in some fractions in quantities sufficient to study their response to liquefaction. The ease of liquefaction of macerals isolated from subbituminous coals was, in descending order, liptinite, vitrinite, inertinite. Liquefaction of inertinite occurred at somewhat higher temperatures compared to that of vitrinite macerals which initiated between 350/sup 0/ and 400/sup 0/C. Analysis of the chemical makeup of macerals from a subbituminous coal indicated that liptinite was relatively rich in hydrogen, whereas vitrinite and inertinite were relatively rich in oxygen and carbon respectively. The average densities were 1.285, 1.345 and 1.458 g/cc for liptinite, vitrinite and inertinite respectively. X-ray diffraction and NMR spectra of the three macerals were also investigated which will be the subject of a future detailed report.

Research Organization:
Coal Research Department, Alberta Research Council, Devon, Alberta
OSTI ID:
5082396
Journal Information:
Liq. Fuels Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Liq. Fuels Technol.; (United States) Vol. 3:3; ISSN LFTED
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English