Gas chromatography applied to the study of the liquid products of the low-temperature fluidized-bed carbonization of coal

Abstract

Acidic and neutral fractions of a light oil distillate and tar distillates produced by the low-temperature fluidized-bed carbonization of a New South Wales bituminous coal were examined by gas chromatography using silicone, Apiezon L and Molecular sieve 5A columns up to 220°. The separation of the phenols was incomplete, but eleven peaks were tentatively identified. The distribution of phenols in the light oil distillate and in the tar distillate was very similar, the major components being the cresols and certain xylenols. The neutral fractions were highly aliphatic as shown by infrared spectra of the whole oils and of components collected after chromatographic separation. Successive removal of olefins, aromatics and normal paraffins from the light oil followed by chromatography of the residue in each case showed that normal paraffins and 1-olefins ranging from C 7 to C 15 (mainly C 9 to C 13) were the major constituents. The tar distillate appeared to be similarly constituted except that the proportion of olefins was somewhat less. The range was C7 to C21 approximately (mainly C11 to C20). Isoparaffins, isomeric olefins and perhaps naphthenes were also present in minor amounts in both cases. Very little aromatic material appeared to be present.