Microscopic evaluation of inertinite in the coke micro-structure: A case study from Jharia Coalfield, India

Abstract

ABSTRACTInertinite, a maceral group, which remains inert or partly fuses during the carbonization process, plays a vital role in coke making. During carbonization, vitrinite softens and resolidifies to form porous mosaic texture and loses its original identity whereas, inertinite gets filled up as filler form firmly implanted within different types of mosaic matrix. Their size and association with other maceral or minerals also modify their behavior in coke. Structured and unstructured, smaller and larger, high and low reflectance, oxidation or heat alteration, all behaves in a different manner. The Gondwana coals are characteristically rich in inertinite group of macerals, especially semifusinite which has a wide range of reflectance and morphology varying from vitrinite to fusinite. Present study deals with the behavior of inertinite in Gondwana coals during the carbonization process. Coke petrography is an important tool which gives an insight into the maceral interaction. Different macerals of the inertinite group have been analyzed in coke and compared with their occurrence in parent coal. The study reveals the influence of different inertinite macerals in determining the coke quality.