Pyrolysis of brown coals. 1. Decomposition of acid groups in coals containing carboxyl groups in the acid and cation forms

The effect of low-temperature pyrolysis (up to 300 °C) on the acid groups of two low-rank coals (a brown coal from Victoria, Australia, and a lignite from Texas, U.S.A.) has been studied for samples in both the acid and cation forms. A preliminary study at temperatures above 300 °C was made on the brown coal. The carboxyl groups of coals in the acid form decompose to give one mole of carbon dioxide for each equivalent of carboxyl content. Cation-form coals yield more carbon dioxide on pyrolysis than can be accounted for by the carboxyl groups present. Water is evolved in proportion to the carbon dioxide evolved from both acid- and cation-form coals, but the ratios differ. Findings have been interpreted as indicating that some other oxygen-containing group is associated with the carboxyl group. In the case of the acid-form coal this group decomposes to give water. When the carboxyl group is in the cation form, decomposition of the associated groups gives carbon dioxide as well as water. Phenolic groups appear to be stable, at least to 300 °C.