Protocols for the selective cleavage of carbon-sulfur bonds in coal. Technical report, March 1, 1992--May 30, 1992

Abstract

Chemical reactions that result in carbon-sulfur bond cleavage are an essential aspect of any protocol designed to remove organic sulfur from coal. Unfortunately, several classes of reactions that lead to carbon-sulfur bond cleavage are not well understood. Planned in ``Protocols for the Selective Cleavage of Carbon-Sulfur Bonds in Coal`` are reactions in which organic sulfur-containing coal model compounds are subjected to different conditions of temperature, solvent mixtures and radiation. Summarized in this quarterly report are results of our investigations of the following topics: (a) the reactions of coal model compounds, namely, benzyl phenyl sulfide (BPS), diphenyl sulfide (hereafter referred to as phenylsulfide, PS) and dibenzothiophene (DBT) with various reagents (Lewis acid catalysts, radical initiators, electron acceptors) using different solvents and temperature in an attempt to maximize the degree of carbon-sulfur (C-S) bond cleavage; and (b) the results of photooxidation of coal model compounds under controlled conditions. Quantitative product analyses are presented in this report.