thermochemical and geochemical characteristics of sulphur coals
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Thermochemical and geochemical characteristics of
sulphur coals
Achim Bechtel a,*, Ludmila Butuzova b, Oksana Turchanina c,Reinhard Gratzer a
aInstitut fur Geowissenschaften, Montanuniversitat Leoben, Peter-Tunner-Str. 5, Leoben A-8700, AustriabL.M. Litvinenko Institute of Physical Organic and Coal Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of the Ukraine,
70 R. Luxemburg str., Donetsk 83114, UkrainecDonetsk State Technical University, 48 Artema str., Donetsk 83000, Ukraine
Received 31 January 2002; received in revised form 27 March 2002; accepted 29 March 2002
Abstract
Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was applied for investigation of the
extracts obtained from three pairs of Donets bituminous coals (76–79% of Cdaf) of similar rank but
differing in sulphur content. The elemental characteristic of the coals and hydrocarbon composition
of their extracts reflect the differences in the environments of sulphur coals formation and differences
in their structure. The thermal and natural coalification pathways of low- and high-sulphur coals
formed under low-reduced and reduced conditions during early diagenesis were determined. D 2002
Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Sulphur coals; Structure; Biomarkers; Coalification; Carbonification
1. Introduction
A high sulphur content in coals is an effect of the postdepositional history of coal bed
formation and one of the most important criterion of its use as a fuel [1]. It is known that
coal properties are determined by genetic type, petrographic composition and rank.
Sulphur coals are common in Europe [2], Africa and America. In the Donets basin
(Ukraine), coal deposits are multifacial, which were formed under marine transgressions
and regressions resulting in variation of marine and terrestrial inputs. Coal seams that have
0378-3820/02/$ - see front matter D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S0378 -3820 (02 )00055 -3
* Corresponding author. Fax: +43-3842-402640.
E-mail address: achim.bechtl@unileoben.ac.at (A. Bechtel).
www.elsevier.com/locate/fuproc
Fuel Processing Technology 77–78 (2002) 45–52
been influenced by marine transgressions dominate in the basin (72.7% of total coal
deposit) [3]. They are overlain by marine strata and are characterised, especially in the
upper parts of the seams, by a particularly high content of fine pyrite (commonly in the
form of fromboids) and organic sulphur. Formation of these coals during early diagenesis
(peat-formation period) proceeded under more reductive conditions (flooding of peat by
seawater) with high bacterial degradation of plant remnants and bacterial reduction of
seawater sulphates. The coals formed under reductive conditions (RCs) are typically
enriched in sulphur and hydrogen contents. The early diagenesis of coals formed under
less reductive conditions (LRCs) took place in a freshwater environment, nourishing peat-
land, which burial was accomplished by fluvial sediments.
A high content of sulphur in coals is causing a serious environmental and technological
problem during their utilisation. The high proportion of coal in coal seams containing RCs
is susceptible to self-ignition [4], while coals in seams containing LRCs are characterised
by a elevated susceptibility to sudden ejection of coal and gas [5]. The aim of the paper is
to establish the differences in the geochemical characteristic of the RCs and LRCs and
their behaviour in the processes of carbonisation and coalification.
2. Experimental
2.1. Samples
Three pairs of Donets bituminous coals of similar rank (Rm = 0.49–0.71%), differing
genetic types, and tendency to self-ignition were investigated (see Table 1 in the further text).
They derive from Pennsylvanian (Moscovian stage) and have uniform petrographic
composition: 80–87% vitrinite, 5–8% liptinite, 5–12% inertinite. The samples of reduced
and low reduced coals were collected from coal seams within lateral distances between
stratigraphic columns smaller than 100 m. Limestone layers at the top of the coal seams and
finely crystalline pyrite presence were reliable signs of a reduced type of Donets coals.
Microlithotypes with a fine pyrite (carbopyrite) content were used as indicators of RCs and
LRCs, respectively [6].
Table 1
Proximate and ultimate analyses of parent coals
No. Coal, seam Type Rm
(%)
Wa
(wt.%)
Ad
(wt.%)
Vdaf
(wt.%)
Cdaf
(wt.%)
Hdaf
(wt.%)
Ndaf
(wt.%)
Std
(wt.%)
Ssd
(wt.%)
Spd
(wt.%)
Sodaf
(wt.%)
1 Cheluskintsev, l4 LRC 0.71 0.8 2.4 35.6 79.3 4.94 2.32 2.17 0.04 0.11 2.07
2 Trudovskaya, l4 LRCa 0.55 1.0 1.6 37.3 78.4 4.95 1.90 1.05 0.04 0.17 0.85
3 Kurahovskaya, l4 LRC 0.66 9.4 5.3 37.2 79.3 5.07 – 1.04 0.12 0.07 0.90
1V Ukraine, k8 RC 0.57 1.5 9.9 41.8 77.9 5.30 2.10 2.87 0.11 0.80 2.18
2V Trudovskaya, k8 RCa 0.49 0.9 4.6 46.2 76.1 5.43 1.97 5.85 0.05 0.71 5.34
3V Kurahovskaya, l2 RC 0.52 5.5 8.6 43.0 76.1 5.22 – 5.60 0.02 2.44 3.44
a Susceptible to self-ignition.
A. Bechtel et al. / Fuel Processing Technology 77–78 (2002) 45–5246
2.2. Thermal analyses
The thermal behaviour of coals was studied by differential thermal analyses and
classical Fisher method. Differential thermal analysis of the samples was carried out in a
Paulik-Paulik-Erdei Q-1500D thermobalance in a closed platinum crucible at a heating
rate of 10 jC min � 1.
2.3. Chemical analyses
The proximate and ultimate analyses of the samples, including the total (St), organic
(So), pyritic (Sp) and sulphate (Ss) sulphur were determined by standard procedures. The
total organic carbon content was measured on a Leco carbon analyser on the samples pre-
treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid and calculated on a dry and ash-free basis
(Cdaf, wt.% of the sample; Table 1).
2.4. Extraction
The pulverised samples (about 7 g) were extracted using dichloromethane in a Dionex
ASE 200 accelerated solvent extractor at 75 jC and 50 bar. The solvent was evaporated in
a Zymark TurboVap 500 closed cell concentrator. Then the asphaltenes were precipitated
from n-hexane-dichloromethane solution (80:1 v/v) and separated by centrifugation.
2.5. Liquid chromatography
The medium-pressure liquid chromatography (Kohnen–Willsch) was used for the
separation of the n-hexane-soluble fraction of coal organic matter into saturated, aromatic
hydrocarbons and polar heterocompounds.
2.6. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Saturated and aromatic hydrocarbon fractions were analysed on a gas chromatograph
equippedwith a 25-mDB-1 fused silica capillary column (diameter 0.25mm) and coupled to
a Finnigan MAT GCQ ion trap mass spectrometer. The oven temperature was programmed
from 70 to 300 jC at a rate of 4 jC min� 1 followed by an isothermal period of 15 min.
Table 2
Elemental composition of the solid products during thermal analyses of the coals
T (jC) Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 1V Sample 2V
Cdaf
(wt.%)
H/C
(atm)
Cdaf
(wt.%)
H/C
(atm)
Cdaf
(wt.%)
H/C
(atm)
Cdaf
(wt.%)
H/C
(atm)
20 79.3 0.75 78.4 0.76 77.9 0.82 76.1 0.86
520 87.8 0.49 88.8 0.43 80.8 0.76 81.2 0.76
650 89.5 0.39 89.9 0.4 82.5 0.5 84.9 0.38
850 92.5 0.19 93.5 0.18 90.3 0.18 92 0.14
A. Bechtel et al. / Fuel Processing Technology 77–78 (2002) 45–52 47
Fig. 1. Variations in the H/C atomic ratio versus carbon content for RCs (samples 1V, 2V; dotted lines) and LRCs
(samples 1, 2; solid lines) during carbonisation (a, b) and coalification (c). Symbols in (a, b) refer to pyrolysis
temperatures indicated below (b).
A. Bechtel et al. / Fuel Processing Technology 77–78 (2002) 45–5248
Helium was the carrier gas. The samples ionisation in mass spectrometer was achieved by
the electron impact (70 eV) and a scan range of 50–650 daltons (0.7 s total scan time). Data
were processed with a Finnigan data system. Identification of the individual compounds was
accomplished by their retention times in the total ion current chromatogram and by
comparison of the mass spectra with those of published data. Relative percentages and
absolute concentrations of the compounds in the saturated and aromatic fractions were
calculated using peak areas from the gas chromatograms in relation to that of internal
standards. The concentrations were normalised to the Cdaf content in the sample.
3. Results and discussion
The ultimate and proximate analysis of the coals investigated is given in Table 1. The
reduced coals (RCs), compared with respective low reduced coals (LRCs) of correspond-
ing coalification, have lower value of mean vitrinite reflectance (Rm), higher organic,
pyritic and total sulphur contents as well as higher H/C ratio and yield of volatile matter.
Organic sulphur is the main form of sulphur in coals under study. The content of lithotypes
containing finely dispersed pyrite is high in the RCs (50–63 vol.%), while in the LRCs it
is much smaller (0–6 vol.%).
The pathways in atomic H/C ratio versus carbon content of the coals (natural
metamorphism with depth) and carbonisates (obtained by heat alteration–carbonisation;
Table 2) are presented in Fig. 1. The carbon content Cdaf in coals and carbonisates
vary within range of 76–93%. With an increase of the heating temperature (Table 2)
Table 3
Concentrations (Ag/g Cdaf) and their ratios of specific compounds in the aliphatic and aromatic fractions
Compounds Parent coal
1 2 1V 2V
n-Alkanes 60.06 27.93 36.54 73.36
CPIa 1.43 1.42 1.22 1.13
Prb/n-C17 5.58 6.82 6.40 2.34
Phc/n-C18 1.10 1.41 1.71 0.93
Pr/Ph 5.64 5.45 4.24 2.99
Regular steranes 4.93 3.49 15.30 35.08
Diasteranes 1.36 0.75 5.73 13.35
4a-Methylsteranes 2.90 1.26 0.64 7.34
Hopanes 37.80 24.52 34.22 97.16
Steranes/Hopanes 0.24 0.22 0.63 0.57
Diterpenoids (saturated + aromatic) 12.75 22.00 31.81 37.38
Naphthalene + alkylated naphthalenes 116.13 91.94 170.58 116.85
Phenanthrene +methylphenanthrenes 40.12 44.36 100.08 61.02
Alkylated biphenyls 44.61 47.88 86.98 116.88
Dibenzofuran 4.71 5.03 16.03 14.74
Dibenzothiophene 6.77 9.09 17.91 20.34
a CPI =Carbon Preference Index.b Pr = Pristane.c Ph = Phytane.
A. Bechtel et al. / Fuel Processing Technology 77–78 (2002) 45–52 49
Fig. 2. Geochemical correlations for the studied coals: (a) yield of extractable organic matter versus atomic Hdaf/
Cdaf ratio, (b) atomic Sodaf/Cdaf ratio versus hopanes/organic carbon contents and (c) atomic So
daf/Cdaf ratio versus
steranes/hopanes contents. So = organic sulphur.
A. Bechtel et al. / Fuel Processing Technology 77–78 (2002) 45–5250
and progression of coalification, the discussed dependencies proceed on different path-
ways for the RCs and LRCs. The more pronounced decrease of hydrogen content is
manifested by quicker fall in value of atomic H/C ratio during carbonisation and
metamorphism of the RCs in comparison with corresponding data of the LRCs
(compare dotted and solid lines in Fig. 1, traces a, b and c, respectively). The relative
course of the corresponding curves is similar for all LRC and RC pairs presented. It
can be suggested that during natural or thermal maturation loss of hydrogen bearing
compounds is easier from RCs enriched in organic sulphur. It should be noted that
caking properties of the coals are different. Carbonisates from the LRCs are powders
while these from the RCs are quality cokes.
The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the aliphatic and
aromatic fractions revealed a marked quantitative difference in compounds extracted from
the LRC and RC coals (Table 3). Particularly pronounced differences are in content of the
sulphur-bearing compounds. The RCs have indeed considerably higher absolute concen-
trations of dibenzothiophene (17.9–20.3 Ag/g Cdaf) as compared with the LRCs (6.8–9.1
Ag/g Cdaf; Table 3). Also the overall content of aromatic hydrocarbons is nearly twofold
higher in the RCs, which is in accord with their good caking properties, even for lower
rank coals. Lower values of pristane/phytane ratio for respective RCs counterparts can be
explained by their formation under more reductive conditions during early diagenesis. The
following correlations were determined: (i) between the yield of extractable (soluble)
organic matter (SOM) and atomic H/C ratio (Fig. 2, trace a), (ii) atomic Sodaf/Cdaf ratio
versus content of hopanes (Fig. 2, trace b), and (iii) atomic Sodaf/Cdaf ratio (dry and ash-
free basis) versus steranes/hopanes ratio (Fig. 2, trace c). The predominant aliphatic
biomarkers are bacterial source hopanes (Table 2). The elevated microbial activity was
associated with sulphate reduction and hence leading to the positive correlation between
atomic Sodaf/Cdaf ratio and hopanes concentration. The higher concentration of steranes
relative to hopanes is a characteristic feature of marine influence. Therefore, the found
higher steranes/hopanes ratio for the RCs indicates the increased abundance of marine
photosynthetic organisms relative to aerobic bacteria and are interpreted to reflect
enhanced inflow of seawater [7].
The differential thermal analysis allowed to recognise the susceptibility to self-ignition
of the coals studied. It can be shown that for the coals 1, 2, 1V, 2V values of the highest rateof gaseous matter evolution (temperature range, 390–420 jC) are 9, 12, 17, 24 mg/(min
g), accordingly, i.e. increase in the series: 1 (LRC) < 2 (LRC) < 1* (RC) < 2* (RC).
Carbonisation of RCs revealed 1.8–2.0-fold higher values of the highest rate of gaseous
matter evolution compared to the values for LRC counterparts. Additionally, these rates
are always higher for the coals susceptible to self-ignition. The above-presented data
parallel the content of methyl-biphenyls and dibenzothiophenes in the coals.
4. Conclusions
The thermal and metamorphic maturation pathways for the LRCs and RCs are
established. The organic geochemical parameters allowed to differentiate the early
diagenetic environments of the LRCs and RCs formation. Revealed differences in the
A. Bechtel et al. / Fuel Processing Technology 77–78 (2002) 45–52 51
coals elemental constitution and chemical composition of their extracts are proposed to be
responsible for the higher reactivity of the RCs. The maximum rate of the gaseous matter
evolution during coal carbonisation can be used for assessment the nature of environment
of coal formation and coal susceptibility to self-ignition.
Acknowledgements
This article benefited from the critical remarks of two anonymous reviewers. Financial
support of the Austrian Science Foundation (FWF project no. P14245-CHE) is gratefully
acknowledged.
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