The variation of structural characteristics of macerals during pyrolysis

Vitrinite and inertinite were separated by DGC from Chinese Shenmu bituminous coal and the structural characteristics of the macerals, before and after pyrolysis, were analyzed by ultimate analysis, FTIR and C-13 NMR. The results showed that vitrinite chars always had higher H and lower C content than inertinite char at the same pyrolysis temperature. The FTIR and 13 C NMR indicated that vitrinite had more aliphatic C-H, hydrogen bonding and lower aromaticity. With increasing temperature, the aliphatic C-H decreased, aromatic C-H, aromaticity and H-ar/H-al ratio increased. At the same temperature, inertinite always had higher H-ar/H-al, ratio than vitrinite, which is consistent with that inertinite had higher aromaticity than vitrinite. And the H-ar/H-al ratio was also related to the remainder volatile matter. With increasing H-ar/H-al, ratio, the remainder volatile matter in vitrinite and inertinite decreased. The higher aromaticity and H-ar/H-al ratio and lower H content of the inertinite in all temperature range were correlated with its higher thermal stability and lower volatile yield than vitrinite. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.