Construction of macromolecular structure in KunNing coal and analysis of Macro-Micro oxidation characteristics

Abstract

To explore the macro–micro coal oxidation characteristics for the purpose of preventing coal spontaneous combustion and achieving efficient coal conversion and utilization, the enclosed coal oxidation characteristics of KunNing coal sample (KN) under 25–70 °C were investigated. KN coal molecular models were constructed based on analysis and testing results of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (13C NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and other techniques. The pyrolysis processes of coal-oxygen reaction systems with different oxygen contents were simulated using ReaxFF force field. The results show that the oxygen consumption rate, CO release rate, CO2 release rate and oxidation heat release intensity of coal increase exponentially with rising temperature. The ratio of aromatic bridge carbon to peripheral carbon in KN coal molecular structure is 0.08, and the molecular formula is C149H76O15N2S2. In the later stage of the experimental and molecular dynamics simulation processes, the CO content decreased while the growth rate of CO2 increased. Different indicator gases exhibit varied responses to oxygen content. The C-atom labeling and traceback results for the four indicator gas molecules demonstrate that CO2 mainly comes from aldehyde, hydroxyl, carboxyl and methoxy groups in coal molecules, CO is primarily generated from esters, phenols, carbonyls, C2H2 is predominantly derived from ring-opening and cracking of cycloalkanes, and the source of C2H4 is related to cycloalkanes and alcohols.