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Title: Evidence for long-chain aliphatic structures in sporinite kerogen by alakaline potassium permanganate oxidation

Conference · · Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem., Prepr.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6401013
 [1];
  1. GeoChem Labs. (Canada) Ltd., Calgary, Alberta

The work reported here represents a part of a study undertaken to compare chemical similarities and differences between different macerals and outlines the results of oxidative degradation of a series of sporinite concentrates isolated from Carboniferous coals of high-volatile bituminous rank. The oxidizing agent is potassium permanganate which is added to the sporinite dispersed in an excess of 1.6% KOH solution at 80/sup 0/C. After fractionation by thin-layer chromatography, the components were analyzed by gas chromatography. n-Alkyl moieties are present in at least two modes in sporinite kerogen, although they represent very small proportions of the total structure. Singly-bonded peripheral alkyl chains have been found, with chain length distributions which suggest direct incorporation of fats and waxes from the original plants. Coalification slowly modifies the structures so that specific biological identities are slowly obliterated. Diterminally bonded polymethylene chains are also present, and these structures are thought to develop during early diagenesis through complex reaction pathways involving functionalized lipids and polyfunctional substrates. The oxidation data suggest that oxidizable n-alkyl moieties are slowly expelled from the kerogen matrix, for recoveries decline as the rank of the sporinite increases. However, caution must be exercised in interpreting data from a single degradation technique,for pyrolytic degradation yielded significant quantities of n-alkanes from all the sporinite kerogens. Thus, it would appear that further n-alkyl moieties must be present, but incorporated in a manner which is not susceptible to alkaline permanganate oxidation.

OSTI ID:
6401013
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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