Abstract
Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) has been found to be a very good solvent for the study of low rank coals. Chemical studies of a Texas lignite, its DMSO soluble fraction obtained under ambient conditions, the DMSO insoluble residue and its humic acids have been carried out. Physico-chemical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and /sup 13/C cross-polarization/magic angle spin (/sup 13/C CP/MAS) NMR spectrometry and chemical methods such as pertrifluoroacetic acid oxidation and the determination of acidic group concentrations have shown that the DMSO-soluble portion possesses a chemical structure which is similar to both that of the neat lignite and of the DMSO insoluble residue. The humic acids are highly aromatic and acidic in nature. Preliminary data obtained through the use of /sup 252/Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometry (/sup 252/Cf PDMS) suggests the existence of a common species in both the DMSO extract and the humic acids.
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