Characterization of the organic structure of the Lower Kittanning coal seam using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and optical properties

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6377776

Kuehn, D W

Variations in organic structure of coal samples of the Lower Kittanning seam were determined with Fourier transform infared spectroscopy (FTIR) and reflectance at different wavelengths of visible light. FTIR is a relatively new method for obtaining quantitative data for the organic constituents of coal. The system not only provides spectra of greater quality than conventional infared spectroscopy, but it is coupled to an on-line minicomputer which allows the user to analyze data and perform a variety of manipulations. The data for vitrinite concentrates were compared with selected chemical data using bivariate and multivariate statistical techniques. Certain spectral bands showed high correlations with conventional rank parameters in bivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that some bands showed dependency on a given rank parameter while others were independent. Reflectance and refractive index showed dependency on each other whereas the absorption index appeared to be partially independent. Absorptive index also was independent of the data from FTIR analysis. Liquefaction data and Gieseler fluidity were included with FTIR data for the channel samples in bivariate and multivariate analyses. The analyses revealed that two infrared bands, aliphatic CH/sub 2/ at 2853 cm/sup -1/ and aromatic stretch between 3100 and 2990 cm/sup -1/ can best predict the liquefaction conversion and temperature of maximum fluidity of the Lower Kittanning seam samples. The areal variability in the distribution of FTIR and petrographic data was contoured, and revealed that environment of deposition was a primary control in the distribution of aliphatic groups and petrographic constituents, whereas rank determined the distribution of aromatic CH groups.

• OSTI ID: 6377776
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010600* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COAL
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
INFRARED SPECTRA
INFRARED SPECTROMETERS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SPECTRA
SPECTROMETERS
STATISTICAL MODELS
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS