GC-MS and TG-FTIR Study of Petroleum Ether Extract and Residue from Low Temperature Coal Tar

The heavy tar (H-tar) of low temperature coal tar was collected from a low temperature carbonization plant in Shanbei. H-tar was extracted with petroleum ether (PE) under ultrasonic irradiation and separated into PE soluble and insoluble fractions. Then, the PE insoluble fraction was extracted in a Soxhlet extractor with PE and methanol (MeOH), respectively. PE extract, PE residue, MeOH extract, and MeOH residue were obtained. PESE (PE soluble fraction and PE extract) and MeOH extract were examined by gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC-MS). GC-MS analysis of PESE shows considerable alkanes and extensive series of phenols, naphthalenes, fluorenes, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, etc. Particularly, the content of methyl phenol is about 9.0%. No GC-MS detectable species are found in MeOH extract. So, additional research will focus on PE residue. The pyrolysis behavior of PE residue was investigated by using a thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (TG-FTIR). The re...