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Ruthenium tetraoxide catalyzed oxidation of maceral groups

Journal Article · · Energy Fuel; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ef00007a007· OSTI ID:5150328

Pure liptinite, vitrinite, and inertinite group maceral fractions from a representative high-volatile A bituminous coal have been oxidized with ruthenium (VIII) to produce a broad series of aliphatic carboxylic and benzenecarboxylic acids. Chromatographic and mass spectroscopic procedures were used to identify these compounds, and isotope dilution techniques were used to establish the yields of certain key products. The product distributions from the individual macerals differ considerably. Generally speaking, the observations for the benzenecarboxylic acids indicate the dominance of 1,2-fused benzene rings and suggest that the aromatic structures in the three different maceral groups are similar. The broad array of aliphatic acids obtained from the three macerals imply that the aliphatic structural components of the vitrinite and inertinite maceral groups are similar with hydroaromatic compounds predominating whereas the liptinite group contains polymethylene chains that bridge aromatic structures. Thus, the differences between the inertinite and vitrinite arise from variations in the concentrations of similar types of aromatic and hydroaromatic structures whereas the liptinites contain other quite different aliphatic substances.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
OSTI ID:
5150328
Journal Information:
Energy Fuel; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Fuel; (United States) Vol. 2:1; ISSN ENFUE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English