Solvent swelling behaviour of Shenmu-Fugu and Shengli coals

Abstract

Abstract Swelling behaviors of Shenmu-Fugu bituminous coal (SFBC) and Shengli lignite (SLL) in various organic solvents were investigated at temperatures ranging from 0 °C to 55 °C. The results show that tetrahydrofuran (THF) has a relatively higher swelling ratio in comparison to other solvents, suggesting that THF likely disrupts coal-coal cross-links between macromolecular network structures in coal. SLL swelled more highly than SFBC in methanol (MA), indicating that MA interacts strongly with specific sites on SLL. Swelling ratios of SFBC in carbon disulfide (CDS), recycle liquefaction solvent (RLS) and initial liquefaction solvent (ILS) are appreciably higher than those of SLL. Coal swelling increases with raising temperature within the temperature range studied (0-55 °C), especially in polar solvent.