CHARACTERIZATION OF COAL CHARS FROM A FLASH PYROLYSIS PROCESS BY CROSS POLARIZATION/MAGIC ANGLE SPINNING 13C NMR

Chars from the Illinois Springfield (No. 5) Coal are prepared by flash pyrolysis at progressively higher charring temperatures. The results of a study of these chars by ¹³C NMR with CP/MAS indicate that the initial stage of heating (300^°C) produces a char with aromatic carbon fraction (f_ar) of 68%, and successive heating gives chars with f_ar of 70% (400^°C), 73% (500^°C), 89% (600^°C), 95% (700^°C), and 96% (800^°C). However, the actual amount of aromatic and aliphatic carbon in the char can be calculated by using the NMR measurements, the organic carbon content of the char, and the weight of the char. The calculated values show that the amount of aromatic carbon in char remains relatively constant at each temperature, but the amount of aliphatic carbon in char is reduced during higher temperature charring. At 600^°C, both a large reduction of the aliphatic carbon content and a maximum weight loss occur. Evidently, the aliphatic-bond carbon in coal is the principal source of volatiles derived from coal. The apparent increase in aromaticity (f_ar) of the char heated to progressively higher temperatures is due to the loss of aliphatic-bond moieties and reduction in volume of materials.