X-ray (Radial Distribution Function, RDF) and FT-IR analysis of high sulphur Tirap (India) coal

Abstract

AbstractA preliminary study has been performed on high sulphur coals from Tirap colliery of Assam, India, using X-ray (RDF) technique and FT-IR spectroscopy. XRD pattern of the coal shows that it is amorphous in nature. Function of radial distribution analysis (FRDA) indicates that coal is lignite in type and there is no evidence of graphite like structures. The first maximum in the FRDA at R=0·133 nm relates to the C–C aliphatic bond (type C–CH=CH–C), and the second maximum at R=0·25 nm relates to the distance between carbon atoms of aliphatic chains that are located across one carbon atom. The curve intensity profiles obtained from FRDA show quite regular molecular packets for this coal. FT-IR study shows the presence of aliphatic –CH, –CH2 and –CH3 groups, aliphatic C–O–C stretching associated with –OH and –NH stretching vibrations and HCC rocking (single and condensed rings).