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New concept on coal structure and new consideration for the generation mechanism of oil from coal

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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

The traditional two-phase structural model of coal based on the chemical covalence bonding has to be revised since recent discoveries of powerful mixed solvent such as CS2/C5H9N, giving extra high yields in coal extraction at room temperature. It is believed that the physically associated interactions play important roles in the structure of coal. A composite model of coal is suggested. The organic matter of coal is mainly composed of some parts: the rigid 3-D macromolecules linked with chemical bonds; the polar molecules of high and moderate molecular weights, corresponding to asphaltenes and reslns; the hydrocarbons with lower molecular weights. The polar molecules are associated by physical interactions (such as hydrogen bonding, charge transfer interactions, π-π interactions of aromatic sheets, etc.) each other and with macromolecules to form the network structure, in which some smaller nonpolar molecules are trapped. Based on the new concept of the composite coal model, some considerations for the generation mechanism of oil from coal have approached. Since the energy level of physical association is much lower than the chemical covalent bonding, the upper threshold of oil window for the generation of oil from coal seems not to be limited strictly after the theory of oil generation at the latter stage of the kerogen maturation. It looks reasonable to pay more attention to the geological conditions including the salt, water, minerals and environments of the sedimentation. The evolution process of physically associated interactions in the composite structure of coal and the generation of oil is thought to be intimately influenced by these factors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Petroleum, 100083, Beijing, China

    Kuangzong Qin, Shaohui Guo & Shuyuan Li

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  1. Kuangzong Qin
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  2. Shaohui Guo
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  3. Shuyuan Li
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Qin, K., Guo, S. & Li, S. New concept on coal structure and new consideration for the generation mechanism of oil from coal. Chin.Sci.Bull. 43, 2025–2035 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03183500

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03183500

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