COAL MACERAL CHEMISTRY .1. LIQUEFACTION BEHAVIOR

Three groups of macerals, namely liptinite, vitrinite, and inertinite, were separated from a West Virginia high-volatile bituminous coal (APCS 7 from the Argonne Premium Coal Sample Bank) by continuous flow density gradient technique and their pyrolysis and liquefaction behavior studied. The pyrolysis and liquefaction yields decreased in the order: liptinite > vitrinite > inertinite. There was no discernible interaction among the macerals during pyrolysis or liquefaction. The least reactive inertinities, which makes approximately 15% of the above coal, is projected to have little influence on conversion and product distribution of the whole coal. Therefore, inertinite removal prior to liquefaction can potentially improve process efficiency. Addition of dispersed iron catalyst did not alter the liquefaction of the liptinite, while vitrinite and inertinite gave enhanced oil yields.