Effect of the mineral components of brown coals on the properties of organic matter in the interaction with solvents

The cation-exchange forms of a considerable portion of metals that occur in brown coals from various deposits were identified. Based on swelling data, the interaction of the organic matter of coals with solvents was studied depending on the concentrations of mineral components. It was found that natural brown coals exhibit a densely crosslinked supramolecular structure with the predominance of molecular-size pores. In the course of decationization, the organic matter underwent partial depolymerization; the rate of diffusion and the accessibility of fragments to solvents with relatively bulky molecules dramatically increased.