Determination of transferrable hydrogen in coal liquids by mass spectrometry

Two low-resolution mass spectral (LRMS) group type analyses have been calibrated to quantify transferable hydrogen and to characterise more accurately the aromatic and hydroaromatic species in coal liquids. The analysis for light coal liquids (50-300 C) reports 20 aromatic and hydroaromatic types including phenols and dihydroxybenzenes, while the analysis for heavy coal liquids (300-500 C) reports 30 aromatic and hydroaromatic species. The LRMS transferable hydrogen values were shown to be in good agreement with /sup 13/C NMR values for a series of coal liquid distillates and process oils.