Pressure effects on molecular evolution: Differences between vitrinite and inertinite in coal

Abstract

The difference between vitrinite and inertinite in coal has been regarded as the starting point, and the vitrinite and inertinite stripped from a coal sample were conducted by high-temperature (600 °C and 900 °C) and high-pressure (1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 GPa) experiments. The samples' molecular structure was examined with element analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The results reveal that pressure has an inhibitory effect on the evolution of molecular structure at 600 °C, and the vitrinite shows a lower molecular structure evolution degree than inertinite. For the two macerals at 900 °C, with increasing pressure, the molecular structure parameters exhibit opposite regularities to those at 600 °C, and the vitrinite shows a higher molecular structure evolution degree than inertinite. The evolution rate of molecular structures caused by pressure in vitrinite remains consistent under different temperature conditions, whereas that in inertinite exhibits jumping changes. There must be a transition interval between 600 °C and 900 °C that can change the pressure from inhibiting coalification to promoting coalification. When the temperature exceeds the transition interval, pressure can accelerate the molecular structure evolution in vitrinite, causing it to catch up with and surpass the evolution degree of inertinite's molecular structure.