Properties of asphaltenes derived from liquefying coal with anthracene oil or bitumen

Abstract Gel permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, and electron spin resonance show differences between feed and product asphaltenes and in the preasphaltenes from coal/bitumen and coal/anthracene oil co-processing. Under mild reaction conditions, the product asphaltenes obtained are predominantly derived from the solvent, while the preasphaltenes show larger contribution of coal derived molecules.