Reaction of fluorine gas with coal and the aromaticity of coal

Abstract Molecular fluorine has been used for the study of coal and a small number of model compounds. It is shown that direct estimates can be made of the carbon aromaticity and of the sensitive carbon in cyclic form. The value for a high-volatile Illinois bituminous coal agrees well with that commonly accepted on the aromatic/aliphatic structural hypothesis and suggests that the polyamantane model is unsatisfactory. The reagent also results in removal of nitrogen and sulphur from coal.