Stability of coal macerals

Changes In nuclear magnetic resonance measurements of an extensive suite of Australian coals on heating and exposure to pyridine are used to elucidate the molecular conformation of coal macerals Two types of fusible material are Identified In these coals One Is associated with llptlnltes of all ranks and Is typified by fusion commencing at temperatures below 475 K. The other Is associated with vltrlnltes and some Inertlnltes of bituminous coals only and Is characterized by a sharp onset of fusion at temperatures above 625 K. The temperature of onset of fusion Increases with rank for both types The effect of pyridine on the molecular stability of bituminous coals at ambient conditions Is strongly dependent on maceral composition at 86% C and on rank at higher carbon contents ... 

The extractive chemical disintegration process can be called direct coal liquefaction. Here, solvents rich in hydroaromatic components are especially suited in extracting nearly all of the reactive coal macerals. These types of solvents actively participate chemically in bond breakage and stabilization, are consumed or structurally changed, and are normally used at temperatures considerably in excess of 300°C (570°F). On the other hand, because of the heterogeneous nature of coal it is a distinct possibility there may be/could be no clear operational or mechanistic distinction between extractive disintegration and extractive chemical disintegration processes. 

Fusion of the llptlnlte macerals In bituminous coals commences at lower temperatures and reaches a much greater extent than that of the aromatic macerals (Figures 4 and 5). The greater thermal stability Indicated by the much higher fusion temperatures of the bituminous llptlnltes compared to brown coal llptlnltes can be explained In terms of these materials having a more highly crossllnked macromolecular structure than the llptlnltes In the brown coals. This Increase with coallflcatlon could be the consequence of In situ crosslinking of material or the selective loss of llptlnlte fractions that are less crossllnked and therefore less Inherently stable ... 

---