Abstract

In this paper, we explore the use of high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) in the degradation of the poly aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in coals of different ranks subjected to chemical plus heat treatment. The crystallite diameter on peak (10) approximations, La (10), of 37.6 Å for the high rank coal char at 700 ^oC fell within the HRTEM’s range of minimum-maximum length boundary of 11 x 11 aromatic aromatic fringes (28 – 44 Å). The L_a (10), 30.5 Å for the low rank lignite chars fell nearly on the minimum-maximum length range of 7 x 7 aromatic fringes (17 – 28 Å).

The HRTEM results showed that the high rank anthracite chars at 700 ^oC comprised a higher distribution of larger distribution of larger aromatic fringes (11 x 11 parallelogram catenations). The mechanism for the similarity between coal chars of different ranks was the greater transition occurring in the low rank coals (lignite and sub-bituminous) to match the more resistant medium and high rank coals (bituminous – anthracite). This emphasized that the transitions in the properties of the low rank coals were more thermally accelerated than those of the high rank coals. The total PAHs detected in the coals of different ranks during pyrolysis are dominated by two- and three- ring PAHs. The amount of PAHs increase and then decrease with increase in pyrolysis temperature.

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