Low-rank Coal Research Articles

Effect of moisture on mechanical and physical properties of coals: a uniaxial compression study

The estimation of mechanical and physical properties of coal reservoirs is important for the successful exploration and development of coalbed methane (CBM). Unlike conventional sandstone reservoirs, coal reservoirs exhibit greater sensitivity to stress, resulting in distinct mechanical and physical behaviors. In this study, uniaxial compression tests were performed on both low-rank and high-rank coal samples under different moisture conditions to reveal the mechanical and physical property changes with stress. The results indicate that during axial stress loading (up to 2.8 MPa), axial strain initially increases rapidly and subsequently at a slower rate, with an axial strain of 0.13–0.25% observed at the maximum axial stress. The instantaneous Young’s modulus increases linearly before stabilizing, ranging from 618.01 to 4861.10 MPa, while the Poisson’s ratio remains relatively constant or increases linearly, ranging from 0.002 to 0.165. This results in a negative exponential decrease in both porosity and permeability, with maximum reductions of 1.77–4.21% and 5.38–12.25%, respectively. The mechanical properties of coal are influenced by both the cementation effect of water at low water saturation and the softening effect at high water saturation, which results in axial strain decreases and then increases as the water saturation increases. Concurrently, the elastic modulus initially increases and then decreases, while the Poisson’s ratio exhibits a less pronounced change or tends to increase. Consequently, there is a trend in which porosity and permeability first increase and then decrease. In addition, during stress unloading, the influence of water in coal induces a notable strain hysteresis phenomenon in water-containing coal samples, and this phenomenon is more obvious in the low-rank coals.

High-efficiency co-liquefaction of brominated epoxy resin and low rank coal in supercritical water: Waste recycling and products upgrading

With the acceleration of upgrading electronic information products, a large amount of electronic waste was generated. Brominated epoxy resins (BERs) are the main nonmetallic components of e-waste. The recycling of BERs has attracted people's attention due to their potential environmental risks. Low rank coal is difficult to efficiently utilize due to its high moisture content, oxygen content and low calorific value. This study developed an efficient co-liquefaction strategy for BERs and low rank coal by supercritical water (SCW) process. Under optimized conditions (temperature of 425 ℃, reaction time of 60min, solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:10g/mL, and BERs-coal mass ratio of 1:4g/g), the total conversion efficiency of co-liquefaction reached 56.76%. When the temperature was 325 - 425 °C, there was a positive synergistic effect between BERs and low rank coal co-liquefaction, and the highest synergy efficiency of 11.13% was reached at 400 °C. The introduction of BERs could significantly reduce the oxygenated compounds and the heteroatomic compounds in the liquefied oil products, improving the quality of oil products. The co-liquefaction promoted the production of phenolic chemicals and inhibited the cross-linking reaction of the decomposition products from low rank coal, and realized the synchronous conversion of BERs and low rank coal. The C-Br bond in the residue was significantly weakened after co-liquefaction. The oil products did not contain brominated organic compounds, also demonstrating the potential of the co-liquefaction process for debromination of BERs.

Synergistic enhancing low-rank coal flotation mechanisms using nanocarrier collector through pore sealing and surface hydrophobicity

Low-rank coal (LRC) is difficult to float using conventional oily collectors due to the rich oxygen-containing functional groups and abundant pores on its surface. In this study, an effective nanocarrier collector containing both nanoemulsion and nanoparticle with droplet size of 10–70 nm was developed, through diesel-beeswax mixture and AEO-7 using low-energy shearing and rapid cooling emulsification to enhance the LRC flotation. The surface morphology and elemental compositions of LRC were firstly characterized using SEM and EDS, identifying its difficult-to-float mechanisms. Then, the macroscopic appearance and microscopic size distribution of nanocarriers, and flotation tests were conducted to determine the optimum formula of nanocarrier collector for LRC. The results indicated that the recovery rate of combustibles was first increased and then decreased, by increasing the mass ratio of beeswax to diesel. When the mass ratio of diesel, beeswax, and AEO-7 was 2:3:5, the recovery rate of combustibles could be achieved to 92.98 %. Finally, the BET specific surface area, water adsorption, contact angle and wrap angle experiments were conducted to clarifying the synergistic enhancing LRC flotation mechanisms of nanocarriers collector. The nanocarriers could permeate into and seal the LRC surface pores, thereby reducing the both surface pore volumes and specific surface area. In addition, the mixtures of diesel and beeswax synergistically improved the surface hydrophobicity. Consequently, this research provides new insight into the development of effective collectors for LRC flotation.

Exploration on the mechanism of enhancing flotation of long-flame coal by diesel modification via oxidation

Low-rank coal is naturally hydrophilic, and the traditional hydrocarbon collectors often have poor performance in its flotation. In this study, the modification of diesel was conducted using an instantaneous gasification-oxidation-condensation device for the expected improvement of collector’s performance. Experimental analyses and interfacial interaction calculation were performed to explore the mechanism of enhancing flotation of long-flame coal by diesel modification. It indicated that the flotation of coal sample can be greatly enhanced by the modified diesel, and a combustible matter recovery of 90.52 % could be attained only consuming 6 kg/t of modified diesel which was far better than the flotation effect consuming 100 kg/t of common diesel. The improved flotation effect of the coal sample could be attributed to the increased polarity of collector from 0.48 % to 9.76 % resulted from the newly added oxygenated functional groups after the oxidation of diesel, which significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of the collector on the long-flame coal surface reflected by the FTIR and XPS analyses. Furthermore, the calculated results of interfacial interaction between the coal sample and the common/modified diesel suggested that the efficient adsorption of modified diesel on the coal sample was achieved through the bridging role acted by water molecules. This research may give some insight into enhancing flotation of low-rank coal.

Exploring the ultramicropore structure evolution and the methane adsorption of tectonically deformed coals in molecular terms

The mechanical deformation of coals occurring extensively during the geological period (tectonically deformed coals) can directly alter their pore structures and then the storage of coalbed methane. This study in-situ investigated the effects of different mechanical deformations on the ultramicropore structure and the methane adsorption of coal molecules using molecular simulations. The results show that the shear deformation (< 0.23 GPa) of coals was much easier than the compression (~ 20 GPa). Further, the shear deformation can increase the void fraction (200%) and the surface area (30%) of coal molecules, comparing to the reduction of them by the compressive deformation. Accordingly, compression is not benefited to the methane storage (only remaining 14-22% adsorption amount). While, the shear deformation of coals can increase the methane adsorption amount (reaching 42–50 mmol/g). The ~ 7.5 Å is a key pore size to evaluate the effect of the shear deformation on the methane adsorption amount. Also, the adsorption sites for methane depends on the deformation mode of coals (compression: heteroatoms; shear: C atoms). Overall, the strained Wiser (bituminous, medium-rank) coal shows relatively superiority in the methane storage, while the methane adsorption of Wender (lignite, low-rank) coal is much more sensitive to the mechanical strain.

Generation characteristics and molecular reaction dynamics mechanism of PAHs during oxygen-lean combustion of jet coal

Severe coalfield fires occur in China, mainly in the northwest provinces of Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia. Among the organic pollutants produced by oxygen-lean combustion, PAHs are considered one of the most dangerous pollutants due to their environmental contamination and “carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic” effects on human beings. In this paper, to address the problems of PAHs generation and reaction mechanism in coalfield fire, the jet coal from Xinjiang Zhundong Coalfield was selected to conduct the experiments, and the combustion products were detected using GC–MS and FTIR. The molecular dynamics method based on the reaction force field was also used to calculate the reaction process of 17 single molecules (5083 atoms) of jet coal combusted from 300 K to 4000 K at 0.5 oxygen equivalent ratio. The experimental results show that the generation of PAHs increased roughly from 573 K to 773 K at the three oxygen concentrations, and an increase in oxygen content can enhance PAHs generation to some degree. The structural evolutions and product changes in the system have been traced, and it is also clarified that the reaction history of oxygen-lean combustion mainly experiences two stages: thermal decomposition of coal structure and transformation of aromatic structure. The generation mechanism of PAHs is proposed from the perspective of molecular reaction dynamics. On the one hand, it is due to the breakage of active sites such as C-S, C-O, and O-H during the decomposition of coal structure. On the other hand, it originates from the polycondensation reaction triggered by the dehydrogenation of aromatic structure that enlarges the aromatic dimension The research results reveal the generation characteristics and reaction pathways of PAHs in the oxygen-lean combustion of low-rank coal in the fire zone and provide certain references for coal fire management and pollutant control.

Influence of Microwave-Assisted Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Treatment on the Pore Structure of Low-Rank Coal

Influence of Microwave-Assisted Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Treatment on the Pore Structure of Low-Rank Coal

Effect of Sulfur Contents on Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds in Low-Rank Bituminous Coals

Different coal seams go through distinct biological, physical, and chemical processes. Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in coal may retain information about these processes, especially in low-rank bituminous coals. Three coal seams with different sulfur contents from the Ningwu Coalfield were studied to understand the relation of different sulfur contents with PAC formation in low-rank bituminous coals. Coal samples were extracted by solvent and separated using liquid chromatography. The collected aromatic hydrocarbon fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 27 sulfur-containing PACs (SPACs) were identified in the high-sulfur samples, whereas only 8 SPACs were found in the low-sulfur coal and middle-sulfur coal. The total SPACs to total PACs ratios (T-SPACs/T-PACs) are 1.15%, 2.17%, and 10.65% in the low-sulfur, middle-sulfur, and high-sulfur coal, respectively. The variations of SPAC species and their content ratios indicate that SPAC formation is controlled by the sulfur contents in the low-rank bituminous coals. A total of 18 oxygen-containing PACs (OPACs) were identified in the low-sulfur coal and middle-sulfur coal, whereas only 11 OPACs were found in the high-sulfur samples. The average ratios of OPACs to the identified aromatic compounds (T-OPACs/T-PACs) are 9.81%, 9.62%, and 6.91% in the low-, middle-, and high-sulfur coals, exhibiting a negative correlation with sulfur contents and indicating that OPACs were also influenced by sulfur contents in low-rank bituminous coals. The ratios of total contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to total PACs (T-PAHs/T-PACs) are 89.1%, 88.2%, and 82.0% in the low-, middle-, and high-sulfur coals, respectively, indicating a decreasing trend from low- and middle-sulfur coal to high-sulfur coal. This variation could be caused by the reaction of PAHs and sulfur to form SPACs.

Modeling and experiments on plasma ignition of Ekibastuz coal in the form of dust

Due to the low cost of coal and the fact that it is readily available in most parts of the world, coal is a convenient fuel source. Despite the inefficiency of the systems when it comes to converting heat energy into electricity, new technologies are necessary in order to improve their efficiency. In contrast to traditional methods of starting-up boilers and stabilizing combustion, plasma ignition and combustion stabilization (PICS) of pulverized coal flames offers an effective and sustainable alternative to the use of fuel oil or gas. This technology involves heating the air-coal mixture with electric arc plasma until the coal devolatilizes and the coke residue partially gasifies. Consequently, low-rank coal is converted into a highly reactive two-component fuel (HRTF) consisting of combustible gas and coke residue. For these processes in a plasma-coal burner (PCB) using Ekibastuz coal in the form of dust, a kinetic analysis was conducted using the PlasmaKinTherm program. Modeling the kinetics of PICS of pulverized fuel allowed changes in temperature, velocity, and concentration to be determined along the length of a PCB. The composition, degree of carbon gasification, and temperature of a stable coal-dust flame were determined using plasma ignition of solid fuel. Based on the comparison between experimental and calculated data, it was found that the results were satisfactory.

Preparation of coal-based carbon quantum dots and their fluorescence properties

In the field of life sciences, cellular movements play a significant role in influencing the activities of organisms. Current methodologies have limitations in the monitoring of cell recognition, biological macromolecule localization, cell labeling, migration, and biosensors. Although metal–semiconductor quantum dots are commonly used, they may pose toxicity risks to the lungs and kidneys. On the other hand, carbon quantum dots possess the unique optoelectronic properties of traditional quantum dots while exhibiting low toxicity, good biocompatibility, excellent photostability, and abundant raw material sources. In this research, carbon quantum dots were synthesized using the nitric acid oxidation method. The study investigated the effects of temperature, time, and the type of low-rank coal on the synthesis of carbon quantum dots. The structure and properties of the carbon quantum dots, specifically their fluorescence characteristics, were thoroughly analyzed. The proposed synthesis approach includes the nitration of coal macromolecules and the thickening of aromatic clusters through the Scholl reaction, leading to enhanced fluorescence quantum efficiency. The findings of this study indicate that the carbon quantum dots produced through this method demonstrate a high fluorescence quantum yield, making them ideal fluorescent agents for material preparation and offering potential applications in the field of life sciences.

Analyzing the combustion characteristics of Thar coal block XI: A comprehensive study

Coal is a key energy resource in the world that is available at low cost and the high energy content in coal makes it a fuel of choice in many developed and developing countries. Regardless of massive reserves, Thar coal of Pakistan is low-rank lignite coal with high moisture contents and has very limited use. The proximate analysis, ultimate analysis and X-ray diffractometry analysis were performed to investigate the combustion characteristics, morphological and mineral characteristics of Thar coal block XI. Thar coal samples in this study are characterized as low-rank lignite coal. The proximate analysis showed a significant difference in moisture content, volatile content, fixed carbon content and ash residue. The ultimate analysis provided the details of elemental contents (Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Sulfer) in coal. The combustion characteristics such as combustion performance of lignite at high temperatures (950 °C) was investigated in thermogravimeter and the results showed the variations in the ignition temperature, burnout tempearature, combustion index and burnout index. The marphological characteristic were determined by X-ray diffraction. The mineral congregations, ash yields, major and minor elements (SiO2, Al2O3, CaO,MgO, Fe2O3) varied significantly in the coal. These analyses integrate various results for assessing major monitoring parameters of coal reactivity, its temperature ranges and combustion products.

Analysis of difficult flotation mechanisms for coarse low-rank coal: Comparing fluidized-bed and mechanical flotation technologies

Efficient flotation of coarse low-rank coal is essential for enhancing energy utilization in the mineral processing industry. As the beneficiation equipment scales up, the precision of particle size classification before flotation decreases, leading to a higher coarse particle content in the feed, which poses significant challenges to traditional flotation processes. Recent advancements in fluidized bed flotation technology have demonstrated considerable advantages in the flotation of coarse-grained metallic minerals; however, its application to coarse low-rank coal remains relatively unexplored. This study investigates the potential of fluidized bed flotation technology for coarse low-rank coal, employing various analytical methods to elucidate difficult flotation mechanisms. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were utilized to comprehensively characterize the surface morphology and chemical composition of coal samples. The influence of increasing particle size on flotation performance was systematically assessed through measurements of induction time and critical detachment amplitude. Comparative flotation experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of traditional mechanical flotation against fluidized bed flotation technologies. Results indicate that the presence of cracks and oxygen-containing functional groups on the coal surface significantly enhances hydrophilicity, hindering flotation recovery rates. With increasing particle size, the induction time between particles and bubbles lengthens, while the critical detachment amplitude decreases, weakening the attachment and increasing detachment likelihood. Although high-efficiency collectors enhance coal particle hydrophobicity, they cannot fully mitigate the turbulence disrupting bubble-particle interactions in mechanical flotation. Conversely, fluidized bed flotation effectively minimizes turbulence interference, leading to an approximate 40 % increase in the recovery rate of coarse low-rank coal (0.25–1.00 mm) compared to traditional mechanical flotation. This study presents a novel technological approach for the efficient recovery of coarse low-rank coal, contributing to the clean utilization of low-rank coal resources.

Storing electricity in the low-rank coal: The heat-upgrading carnot battery concept and a comprehensive thermodynamic analysis

Promoting the energy/exergy performance of Carnot batteries is beneficial for future applications. This work proposed a Carnot battery concept deeply integrated with the low-rank coal (LRC) power plant (LCPP) for (1) enhancing the energy/exergy performance and (2) reducing LCPP's carbon emission and the minimum technical output (to adopt excess renewable power). The enhancement is attributed to the heat-upgrading effect of LRC pre-drying process and the energy complementarity between the subunits. A thermodynamic model based on the typical LCPP and Carnot battery cases is established to assess and analyze the proposed system. As the results show: (1) Daily average round-trip/exergy efficiencies reach 70.92 % and 54.28 %, and 3.36 % of carbon emission (126.52 ton/day) is reduced in 24 h, significantly higher than the conventional HP-ORC Carnot battery integrated with LCPP. (2) The performance of the proposed Carnot battery cannot be directly predicted from the subunits' performance due to the discharge during the charging periods; however, as long as the integrated charging capacity is not too small, the energy/exergy performance can maintain an elevated level. (3) For a generalized HP-ORC Carnot battery, low exergy input of discharging cycle limits the performance improvement; however, in the proposed system, the energy-upgrading effect compensates for this shortcoming.

Sustainable strategy for high-efficiency flotation of fine low-rank coal: Eco-friendly composite collector prepared from waste oil

This study prepared an innovative composite collector of waste oil (WO) in kitchen waste, suitable for fine low-rank coal (LRC) flotation. It systematically investigated the potential of the composite collector to recover clean coal from fine LRC by froth flotation. The flotation mechanism of fine LRC particles could be elucidated by the combination of FTIR and XPS. The flotation results demonstrated that the WO composite collector significantly increased the yield and combustible recovery of the fine LRC flotation concentrate. Notably, as the dosage of the WO composite collector increased from 200 to 1000 g/t, the clean coal yield rose from 20.08 % to 74.60 %, while the combustible recovery improved from 24.89 % to 91.19 %. FTIR and XPS analyses indicated that the WO composite collector containing C-H/C-C groups adhered to the surface of the coal particles, which enhanced the hydrophobicity of the particles and improved the flotation efficiency.

Insight into evolution characteristics of pyrolysis products of HLH and HL coal with Py-VUVPI-MS and DFT

To achieve a comprehensive understanding of the influence of chemical structure on the evolution characteristics of coal pyrolysis products, pyrolysis reaction of two kinds of low rank coal (Huolinhe and Huangling coal) were investigated with pyrolysis-vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry (Py-VUVPI-MS). The soft ionized mass spectral detection can provide evolved information of original pyrolysis product. The chemical structure of coal samples was characterized by solid-state 13C-NMR, indicating HLH coal with more branched chain and longer aliphatic chain structure. The bond dissociation enthalpies (BDE) of β-Cal-Cal and β-Cal-O within model compounds were obtained with density functional theory. The difference of peak temperature with maximum evolution was collected to investigate the effect of the chemical environment on evolution behavior of pyrolysis products. The results reveal that branched and long aliphatic side-chains can reduces BDE of β-Cal-Cal and β-Cal-O, resulting in the lower peak temperature of pyrolysis products derived from HLH coal. Substituent groups (such as alkyl and hydroxyl groups) attached on the aromatic rings can reduce peak temperatures. Moreover, the effects of the different substituted position on the aromatic ring of the methyl group presented on differences of the BDE. An increase in aromatic ring size correlates with a certain degree of reduction in BDE for β-Cal-Cal; consequently, peak temperature of pyrolysis products with larger aromatic rings is lower. The pyrolysis behavior of coal were discussed based on the experimental observations and theoretical calculation, which are beneficial to understand the reaction route and mechanism of coal pyrolysis.

Exploration on performance of the oxidized collector in the low-rank coal flotation

ABSTRACT Low-rank coal can be concentrated by flotation process using oxidized kerosene, which can improve flotation performance. However, the difference between oxidized kerosene and conventional collector with the same dosage on flotation performance is little known. In this study, the FTIR spectrum, GC-MS analysis and surfaces tension of collectors were analyzed for comparison the physical and chemical properties. The results showed the kerosene appearance of the short hydrocarbon chains with oxygen groups. The surface tension of kerosene is reduced by 21.99 mm/m after oxidation process. The contact angle and flotation tests were used for the kerosene, mixture including oxidized kerosene and kerosene with a mass ratio of 1:1, as well as oxidized kerosene for evaluating the performance. The results showed that the order of coal surface contact angle is that kerosene > mixture > oxidized kerosene. In addition, flotation tests revealed that mixture had superior flotation performance compared with kerosene and oxidized kerosene. The oxidized kerosene could significantly diminish the ash content of flotation concentrates, and the combustible matter recovery of clean coal with mixture is nearly 16.50% higher than that with kerosene. These results constitute a substantial step forward in technical development for resource recycling of low-rank coal.

Formation and evolution of coke of pyrolytic volatiles of low-rank coal on the carbon-based catalysts

The catalytic upgrading of coal pyrolysis volatiles is an effective technique to achieve clean and efficient conversion of low-rank coal. However, a major problem in this process is catalyst deactivation caused by coke deposition. This study investigated the catalytic cracking effect of activated carbon and metal-modified activated carbon on coal pyrolysis volatiles. It also explained the physical and chemical properties of coke and its formation mechanism related to volatile cracking. The results indicate that phenolic oils, pitch, oxygen-containing compounds, and polycyclic aromatics are linearly related to the coke deposited on the surface of carbon-based catalysts. These compounds act as precursors and are easily transformed into coke via cracking, deoxidation, crosslinking, and polycondensation reactions when the cracking rate of volatiles does not match the hydrogen supply rate. The micro-morphology of coke is primarily composed of amorphous carbon, which is mainly found in pores ranging from 0.50 to 5.00 nm and on the outer surface of carbon-based catalysts. The chemical structure of coke primarily consists of large aromatic clusters containing at least six benzene rings and oxygen-containing cross-linking compounds with a high degree of graphitization and a low number of carbon structural defects. This results in an increase in radical concentration of carbon-based catalysts, as well as a decrease in combustion reactivity. The outcomes will aid in controlling coke deposition during catalytic cracking of pyrolytic volatiles of low-rank coal.

Experimental Study on Spontaneous Combustion of Low Rank Coal Containing High Sulfur in Goaf Atmosphere

Experimental Study on Spontaneous Combustion of Low Rank Coal Containing High Sulfur in Goaf Atmosphere

Geochemical and mineralogical assessment of environmentally sensitive elements in Neyveli lignite deposits, Cauvery Basin, India.

This research work presents an examination of the concentrations and modes of occurrence of environmentally sensitive elements within lignite deposits, located in Neyveli, within the Cauvery Basin of India. Coal is one of the most complex geologically formed materials, consisting of organic and inorganic matter. The inorganic mineral matter including thecrystalline minerals, non-crystalline mineraloids, and elements with non-mineral associations. These lignite samples underwent complete analysis encompassing macroscopic, microscopic and geochemical assessments. The analysis reveals that the total mineral matter (MM) content, comprising significant proportions of sulphides, carbonate and argillaceous components. Geochemical characterization further elucidates the lignite's properties, with proximate analysis yielding values such as ash, volatile matter and fixed carbon and the Ultimate components analysis reveals the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen. Inorganic mineral matters play a significant role in coal utilization, and also such modes of occurrence of elements provide useful geochemical information on coal formation and coal-bearing basin evolution. In this paper, we assess the associations of elements and minerals, as well as the associations of selected elements including environmentally-sensitive (e.g., S, As, U, and Hg), and some major elements (e.g., Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, and Ti) that have largely occurred in non-mineral forms in these low-rank coals. And also, comparative analysis is conducted between the concentrations of elements within the lignite samples and the values reported for World Clarke Brown Coals (WCBC). Particularly, some of these elements exhibit significantly high environmental sensitivity, demanding careful consideration in lignite extraction and utilization practices.

Catalytic ethanolysis of Xiaojihan subbituminous coal to platform chemicals enhanced by pre-oxidation with ozone

Xiaojihan subbituminous coal (XSBC) was pre-oxidized by ozone to prepare oxidized XSBC (OXSBC). Then, the ethanolysis was conducted on OXSBC at 300 °C under an initial nitrogen pressure (INP) of 1 MPa for 2 h. On this basis, the influences of pre-oxidation conditions on the content of oxygen-containing functional groups and the yield of soluble portion (SP) from the ethanolysis of XSBC and OXSBC were explored. The research results show that the yield of SP from the OXSBC ethanolysis is higher than that from the XSBC ethanolysis, and the highest yield of SP from the OXSBC ethanolysis reaches 24.9 wt% at 50 °C for 3 h, an increase of 80.4 % compared to the yield of SP from the XSBC ethanolysis. Besides, the magnetic nanosphere Co-CuFe2O4 catalyst, prepared by adopting the one-pot hydrothermal method, was applied to the catalytic ethanolysis (CE) of OXSBC3 at 300 °C, 1 MPa INP, and 2 h. The catalyst is noticeably active in the CE of OXSBC3, as it promotes the yields of SP and oxygen-containing organic compounds obtained from the OXSBC3 ethanolysis from 24.9 wt% and 76.25 mg g−1 to 42.8 wt% and 204.16 mg g−1, respectively. The CE of the model compound demonstrates that ethanol is activated by Co-CuFe2O4 to release H+, H-, and +CH2CH3, which play a crucial role in the conversion of benzyloxybenzene. This study provides a novel approach for acquiring value-added organic chemicals from low-rank coals.