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Reactivity and characterization of coal macerals

Journal Article · · ACS Symp. Ser.; (United States)

In a study of the organic structures in coals and their reactivity in chemical and thermal processes, it is desirable to reduce the complexity of the material by some sort of physical separation. One such approach is the separation of the coals into their maceral groups, which are the microscopically identifiable organic portions of coal which may have different origins, chemical and physical features, and reactivity. Two bituminous coals have been separated into their three main maceral groups: exinite, vitrinite, and inertinite, using a modified float-sink technique which uses analytical density gradient centrifugation (DGC) to determine the appropriate density ranges. The DGC technique, which also exploits the differences in densities, has just recently been reported. Also, several maceral samples were prepared by hand picking, including several vitrinities, a fusinite, and a resinite. An alginite sample was obtained from the DGC separation. The maceral purity of these samples was determined from petrographic examination. The techniques used for characterization and for studying reactivity have been developed using whole coals. 29 references, 8 figures, 5 tables.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
6135318
Journal Information:
ACS Symp. Ser.; (United States), Journal Name: ACS Symp. Ser.; (United States) Vol. 252; ISSN ACSMC
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English