HON-DESTRUCTIVE EXTRACTION IECHANIS1 OF BITUMINOUS COALS USING K-IETBTL-2-PY1LR0LID0NE

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Abstract
A technique whereby substantial portions of bituminous coals are extracted, non-destructively using N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone under mild conditions (202° C and 1 atm pressure) was previously reported. Herein, a parametric study on the extraction step is presented and a possible mechanism on the extraction is proposed. The extent of extraction shows little dependence on the solvent-to-coal ratio, coal particle size and treatment time whereas coal type and treatment temperature significantly affect the extent of extraction. Extractions for 26 different coals are reported and the results show reasonable correlation with the ratio of the volatile matter to fixed carbon (VM/FC), i.e. the inverse of the fuel ratio of the coal. A postulated mechanism of extraction is based on the assumption of the two-phase structure of coal. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) studies of the raw coal, and unextracted and extracted species support the proposed mechanism and lend support to the two-phase model of coal structure. The ratio (VM/FC) seems to be a fundamental parameter which relates coal properties to the accessibility of extractable components in the coal matrix.