Fundamentals of coal depolymerization under hydroliquefaction conditions: kinetic and structural analyses of a bituminous (Powhatan No. 5) coal and its liquefaction products. Quarterly report, July 1-September 30, 1981

This is one of the three volumes that constitute the final report for the title project. The objectives of the project included: (a) the use of /sup 13/C solid state NMR to assess the structural features of a given coal (Powhatan No. 5) and how its structure might change upon hydroliquefaction; (b) the petrographic assessment of the maceral make-up of the coal and the petrographic changes upon hydroliquefaction; (c) a better definition of the molecular profile of the products so that eventually reaction pathways of coal molecules upon hydroliquefaction might be delineated. This volume contains material that addresses these objectives. Under a subcontract to Colorado State University, solid state /sup 13/C NMR was used for a very detailed investigation of Powhatan No. 5 coal and to study certain macerals as well as the structural features of the coal under different hydroliquefaction conditions. For some of the macerals, important structural features are obtained other than the usual aromatic/nonaromatic carbon ratio. The petrographic changes under different hydroliquefaction conditions are shown. Some of the work entailed the development and utilization of methodology for the definition of the chemical structures of coal liquids. In addition, the pyrolytic behavior of a model system (tetralin) wasmore » pursued using thermochemical techniques. The overall implication and pertinence of these aspects of the work to the fundamentals of the depolymerization of Powhatan No. 5 coal are presented in the Executive Summary for this project (Report FE-14940-8).« less