Origin of coal

Questions concerning the origins of coal and petroleum center on three topics the nature and composition of the parent organisms, the mode of accumulation of the organic material, and the reactions whereby this material was transformed into the end products. 

Later on the decomposition of cellulose at high temperature was examined by a number of authors. Most of the research was devoted to the problem of the origin of coal. The experiments of T. Urbanski at al. [50] using infra-red spectroscopic analysis for the examination of the products of thermal decomposition of cellulose are described in Vol. III. (Charcoal for blackpowder manufacture). 

Petroleum is an extremely complex mixture of hydrocarbons, which can be separated into liquid (oil) and gas fractions. Compared to coal, petroleum being a liquid is easier to transport. It probably originated in marine sediments, in contrast to the terrestrial origins of coal. 

Hatcher P. G. and Breger I. A. (1981) Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of ancient buried wood I. Observations on the origins of coal to the brown coal stage. Org. Geochem. 3, 49-55. 

Casagrande, D.J., Siefert, K., Berschinski, C. and Sutton, N., 1977. Sulfur in peat-forming systems of the Okefenokee Swamp and Florida Everglades origins of coal. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 41 161—167. 

Breger, I. A., Krasnow, M., and Chandler, J. C. (1978). Peat from the Everglades of Florida A study of the origin of coal and of natural gas. Tenth Inti. Congr. Sedimentology, July 1978, Abstracts 1, pp. 85-86. 

Origin of Coal Seams. By analogy to present-day deposits and to the lithologic character of associated strata, the ancient coal seams formed in vast peat swamps. The swamps were located on coastal plains, often on, or adjacent to, major river deltas. Some of the swamps might have been 200 to 400 miles across. 

Sample identification Origin of coal Type of combustion Method of collection... 

The origins of coal lie in the realms of the distant past, but it is generally believed that coal takes its origins from dead plants and, possibly, animals. Coal has been formed at many times in the past, but most abundantly during the Carboniferous Age (about 300 million years ago) and again during the Upper Cretaceous Age (about 100 million years ago). 

Laubach, S.E., Marrett, R.A., Olson, J.E., and Scott, A.R. 1998. Characteristics and origins of coal cleat A review. International Journal of Coal Geology, 35 175-207. 

In short, this early theory invoked the concept of the in situ origin of coal by noting that the low content of mineral matter as part of the coal matrix precluded the large-scale transportation of plant material since it was presumed that such transportation would necessarily involve the deposition of plant material in locales that could lead to the inclusion of considerable quantities of mineral matter within the coal. 

The debate over the origin of coal seams appears to have been decided in favor of in situ (or autochthonous) formation from peats formed slowly in swamps of various descriptions (Diessel, 1980 Stach et al., 1982). One of the key factors in this ascendancy of the peat swamp model over the various allochthonous (or transported) models was the recognition of so-called fossil forests—tree stumps with roots and logs in apparent growth positions on top of coal seams. The peat swamp model has not only become the basis of virtually all studies on coal seam formation but is now also the basis of studies on the coalification of the plant constituents to produce the various coal macerals. For this reason, considerable effort has been directed toward the study of modern peat-forming environments. 

Coal is used in processes such as combustion (Chapters 14 and 15), carbonization (Chapters 16 and 17), liquefaction (Chapters 18 and 19), and gasification (Chapters 20 and 21) as well as in the production of chemicals (Chapter 24). The origin of coal (Chapter 3) dictates the heterogeneous nature of coal and, thus, a coal must be characterized before it is used, whether as a single or blended coal. 

Terres, E. 1931. Contributions to the origin of coal and petroleum. Proceedings. Third International Conference on Bituminous Coal, 2 797. 

Thus, in terms of the chemical origin of coal, certain of the plant tissues contain chemical constituents of markedly similar molecular structures but there must be some attempt to recognize that incorporation into the coal precursor of a particular plant tissue (or a large part of the tissue of that particular plant) can also occur. While the maturation process may cause chemical changes to the individual chemical constituents of the tissue, this same maturation process(es) may also cause physical changes to the tissue (in to) that may cause it to appear as a recognizable entity in the coal (ASTM, 2011a-d). 

Labnschagne, B.C.J., Wheelock, T.D., Guo, R.K., David, H.T., and Markuszewski, R. 1988. Proceedings. Fifth Annual International Pittsburgh Coal Conference. University of Pittshurgh, Pittshmgh, PA, p. 417. Laubach, S.E., Marrett, R.A., Olson, J.E., and Scott, A.R. 1998. Characteristics and origins of coal cleat A review. International Journal of Coal Geology, 35 175-207. 

Structural parameters derived by nuclear magnetic resonance studies were employed to calculate the conformation and size of the hypothetical aromatic systems (Figure 10.2) (Bartle et al., 1975). And it is interesting to note the small size of the systems coincide with the natural product origins of coal but offer an attractive alternative to the graphite-type layers that were (even still are) perceived to exist in coal. Such products could arise from the former, but not from the latter. 

The origin of coal dictates that it be a very complex organic material product, having little volatility and containing very molecules which are of different chemical origins and, hence, different size and chemical structure (Haenel, 1992). Indeed, it must always be emphasized that coal, because of... 

It is now becoming more obvious (Speight, 2007), and perhaps has been obvious to polymer scientists for some time, that large polynuclear aromatic systems are not necessary to produce high yields of thermal coke. It is not only the elemental composition but also the chanical configuration of the system which plays a role in coke/carbon formation not heretofore considered in coal and petroleum science. Thus, the concept of relatively small polynuclear aromatic systans in coal is not at all outlandish and may (considering the natural product origins of coal) be expected, or certainly preferable. 

The origin of coal asphaltene constituents has been the subject of much speculation insofar as they have been considered to be not only the initial products of coal liquefaction but also the secondary products of coal liquefaction ... 

Scott AC (2002) Coal petrology and the origin of coal macerals A way ahead. International Journal of Coal Geology 50 119-134. 

A (a) What are the principal sources of organic compounds (b) Some chemists argue that the ultimate source of all naturally occurring organic compounds is carbon dioxide. Could this be possible Hint-. Think about the origins of coal, natural gas, and petroleum. 

Schobot HH (1989) The geochemistry of coal (I) the classification and origin of coal (II). The components of coal. J Chem Educ 66 242-290... 

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