Alkylation of coal and peat with alcohols

Modification of coals at low metamorphic stages and peat by alkylation with alcohols in the presence of inorganic acids has been studied. Changes in group and individual compositions of bitumenoid fractions taking place during the alkylation of coal and peat have been examined using IR, NMR, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. It has been revealed that the esterification and transesterification reactions prevail in the conversion of the components of the fractions. The alkylation has been shown to have a favorable effect on the yield of the bitumenoid fractions of brown coals and peat.