Liquid-phase alkylation of Assam (Baragolai) coal

Abstract Liquid paraffin which consists of a large number of alkylated aliphatics and aromatics seems to be acting as an alkyl group transfer medium to receptive complexes like coal. The alkyl group receptive spots could be created in the coal complex by treatment with molten alkalis like sodium or potassium hydroxide. By repeating extractions of fresh coal with the same volume of liquid paraffin on a laboratory scale it was found that a stage was reached when liquid paraffin became rich enough in alkyl groups to become an alkyl group donor. This suggests a method for liquid phase alkylation of coal.