Hydrogenation inertinite

The elemental composition of the three maceral groups varies. The vitrinite, which frequently is about 85% of the sample in the United States, is similar to the patent coal. The liptinites are richer in hydrogen, whereas the inertinites are relatively deficient in hydrogen and richer in carbon. The liptinites also contain more aliphatic materials the inertinites are richer in aromatics. The term inertinite refers to the relative chemical inertness of this material, making it especially undesirable for Hquefaction processes because it tends to accumulate in recycled feedstock streams. 

In addition, Shibaoka et al (14) during hydrogenation of a New South Wales coal reported that the inertinite with relatively low reflectance became partially liquefied. 

The distribution of products from the hydrogenation of vitrinite and inertinite separated from Australian Bayswater coal is shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 respectively. Fig. 5 shows the distribution of products from the reduction of Soya-Koishi coal by CD + H20. The product distribution shows a similar tendency to that of Yubari coal shown in Fig. 2. Thus, it indicates that the Py-2, Py-1, A, 02 can be considered as intermediate products in a consecutive coal hydrogenation reaction scheme. 

Figure 4. Distribution of products from Bayswater inertinite hydrogenation at...

Liptinites were made up of hydrogen-rich hydrocarbons derived from spores, pollens, cuticles, and resins in the original plant material. Vitrinites were made up of wood, bark, and roots and contained less hydrogen than the liptinites. Inertinites are mainly oxidation products of the other macerals and are consequently richer in carbon. The inertinite group includes fusinite, most of which is fossil charcoal, derived from ancient peat fires. 

Product characterization from liquefaction has not been extensive. Phi 1p and Russell (95) have examined products by Py-GCMS from metal halide catalyzed hydrogenation of a vitrinite, alginite, and inertinite, each from a different source. They were able to correlate Py-GCMS results with reaction temperature. King, et al. (96) examined the short contact time liquefaction of macerals separated by DGC from a single hvB bituminous coal. They found correlations between density and reactivity and composition of the products. 

Benzophenone, as mentioned in the Introduction, has been used to assess the hydrogen donor capacity of coals (11, 12). Unfortunately, most coals react very slowly with this compound at 400°C, equation 1. For example, less than 57o of this ketone is converted to diphenylmethane by a vitrinite-rich sample of Illinois No. 6 coal in benzene in one hour at 400°C. Preliminary work revealed that the exinite, vitrinite, and inertinite isolated from PSOC-828 exhibit small, but apparently significant... 

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