Effect of Ethanolysis on the Structure and Pyrolytic Reactivity of Zhaotong Lignite

Lignite ethanolysis is one of the efficient conversion processes. In our previous study, Zhaotong lignite (ZL) from Southwest China was subjected to ethanolysis to afford an ethanol-soluble portion and ethanolyzed residue (ER). The structural features of ZL and ER were investigated by ruthenium-ion-catalyzed oxidation (RICO) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The pyrolytic reactivities of ZL and ER were examined with a thermogravimetric analyzer and Curie-point pyrolyzer-gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. The results show that both ZL and ER are rich in-CH2CH2- and -CH2CH2CH2- bridged linkages connecting aromatic rings. In comparison to the RICO of ZL, the RICO of ER produced much less long-chain alkanoic and alkanedioic acids, suggesting that long alkylene bridges and alkyl side chains in ZL were largely cleaved via ethanolysis. Interestingly, ZL has a higher condensation degree than ER, which was confirmed by RICO and solid-state C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. The result was explained by ethanolysis simulation of lignite-related model compounds using density functional theory. Thermogravimetric analysis of ZL and ER exhibits their different pyrolytic reactivities. According to analysis with a Curie-point pyrolyzer-gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer, significant differences in the distributions of the volatile species from the pyrolyses of ZL and ER were observed. Guaiacols and carbazoles are the most abundant group components from the pyrolyses of ZL and ER, respectively. ZL pyrolysis released much more alkanes and phenolic compounds than ER pyrolysis. The cleavage of C-ar-O bonds significantly proceeded during ZL ethanolysis.