Predicting the Possibility for Deep Hydroprocessing of Some Kuzbass Coals

¹ Institute of Coal Chemistry & Chemical Materials Science, Federal Research Center of Coal & Coal Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 650000, Sovetsky 18 Ave, Kemerovo, Russia
² T.F. Gorbachev Kuzbass State Technical University, 650000, 28 Vesennyaya St., Kemerovo, Russia

^* Corresponding author: ipetrov@kemcity.ru

Abstract

Using thermal analysis and photoacoustic IR spectroscopy techniques, the abilities to be hydrogenated for some low-metamorphosed Kuzbass coals have been estimated in the aim of studying the possibilities of their deep industrial processing to obtain liquid fuels and valuable chemical products. Two independent parameters for quick assessment of solid fuel suitability for hydrogenation processes under high pressure of hydrogen have been proposed: 1) the relative maximal rate of coal pyrolysis in the 300-500°C temperature range, [(1/m_o) • dm/dT] (calculated from thermal analysis data), and 2) the intensity of aliphatic IR absorption bands (the sum of their optical densities), normalized to the optical density of an IR absorption band associated with aromatic ring C=C-bonds [i.e., (D₂₉₂₀+D₂₈₆₀)/D₁₆₀₀] (obtained from photoacoustic FTIR spectra of coal materials). It has been shown that for a number of low-metamorphosed Kuzbass coals (Barzas sapromixite, Itatsky lignite and Karakansky longflame coal) the above mentioned parameters were in good consistency with generally accepted hydrogenation ability parameters of solid fossil fuels – atomic H/C ratios and volatile matter values.