Low-temperature pyrolysis of Texas lignite, basic extracts and some related model compounds

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 63; no. 7; pp. 904 - 908
• Main Authors: Roberts, Royston M., Sweeney, Kevin M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.1984; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Brown coal; Carbonization; coal; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; model compounds; pyrolysis; Wood. Peat. Brown coal; coal; model compounds; pyrolysis; Pyrolysis; United States; Chemical structure; Product; Extract; Experimental study; Mechanism; Alkene; Lignite; Texas; Alkane; Production; Low temperature
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/0016-2361(84)90307-7

Low-temperature (400 °C) pyrolysis of Texas lignite produced volatile products typical of coal tars, with tar evolution beginning at about 300 °C. n-Alkanes up to about C 30 were observed among the products and these were accompanied by smaller but significant amounts of 1 -alkenes. Similar pyrolyses were performed on pyridine extracts and sodium hydroxide extracts of lignite. The alkanes and alkenes were seen among the pyrolysis products from the pyridine extracts and from the residual lignite from both types of extractions, but they were not seen among the pyrolysis products from the sodium hydroxide extracts. Pyrolyses of some model compounds suggested that dealkylation of alkyl-substituted arenes can be significant at 400 °C and can account for the production of the alkanes and alkenes from the lignite.