Vitrinite continued

The reactive role of liptinite macerals in liquefaction has been partially documented (50,68). However, recent work has shown that unaltered sporinite often is encountered in the residues from both batch and continuous liquefaction runs. For example, sporinite was a common component in the residues of a high volatile A bituminous coal after hydrogen-transfer runs at 400° for 30 minutes (70). In spite of the relative unreactivity of the sporinite in this instance, the vitrinite clearly had reacted extensively because vitroplast was the predominant residue component. The dissolution rate of sporinite from some coals, even at 400°C, may be somewhat less than that of vitrinite. 

Since the work reported by McCartney et al. (9), ultrathin sections of other, more heterogeneous components and mixtures of components of coals of different rank have been prepared and observed. Procedures for minimizing artifacts have been learned and followed, and experience in observation has led to avoiding obvious faults. These sections were often not as large and continuous as those of homogeneous vitrinites, but adequate areas were available for electron microscopy. Observations of these various components revealed ultrafine structures of different size and form. Some of the structures can be correlated with those deduced from other direct or indirect study techniques others are unfamiliar and novel, and suggested interpretations are tentative. 

Binder phase continuous solid carbon matrix formed during the thermoplastic deformation of those coal macerals that become plastic during carbonization formed from the thermoplastic deformation of reactive (vitrinite and liptinite) and semi-inert (semi-fusinite) coal macerals of metallurgical bituminous coals (ASTM D-5061). 

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