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Title: Oxidative degradation studies and modern concepts of the formation and transformation of organic constituents of coals and sedimentary rocks

Conference · · Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem., Prepr.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6348927

To better understand the transformation of aliphatic rich materials and lignin-like polymers during catagenesis, oxidative degradation studies of lignite, subbituminous and bituminous coals were carried out using different oxidants. For comparison with coal oxidation, Green River kerogen and softwood and hardwood lignins were oxidized. In order to determine how phenolic structures in lignins and lignin-like polymers have been altered during the evolutionary stages of diagenesis, catagenesis and metagenesis, lignin or lignite coal was heated with clay minerals to produce artificial coalification products. An oxidative degradation study of these artificial coalification products provided some evidence which helps elucidate the alteration of phenolic structures during catagenesis. Conclusions from the present and previous studies are: (1) at least this lignite and subbituminous coal contain aliphatic rich materials which might have been derived from lipids. Such materials are no longer identifiable in higher rank coals except cannel coal, because of extensive degradation during catagenesis. Indeed, trapped volatile compounds extracted from bituminous coals are predominantly aliphatic hydrocarbons which are considered to be degradation products from the macromolecular materials. However, lignite and anthracite coals contain much less of these hydrocarbons. During catagenesis aliphatic carbon chains and alicyclics in kerogen are released successively forming crude oil and gas;(2) During diagenesis and early catagenesis lignin polymers are transformed to lignin-like polymers which are incorporated into the low rank coal macromolecules. At a later stage of catagenesis, these polymers have lost their lignin-like nature as a result of continued and extensive transformation.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL
OSTI ID:
6348927
Report Number(s):
CONF-810308-(Vol.3)
Journal Information:
Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem., Prepr.; (United States), Vol. 26:1; Conference: American Chemical Society symposium on the chemistry of engine combustion deposits, Atlanta, GA, USA, 29 Mar 1981
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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