Characterization of Alaskan Coals: evaluation of their liquefaction behavior. Quarterly technical progress reports, February 1985-April 1985 and May 1985-July 1985

Characterization of the 19 coals in the sample set was completed. These coals, representing seven of Alaska's coal fields, range in rank from lignite to HVA Bituminous. Experimental work on the liquefaction of these coals in the presence of tetralin has continued. The lignite and subbituminous coals from Little Tonzona, Nenana, Beluga, and Yukon Flats coal fields were found to be exceptionally reactive under the conditions used. On a DAF basis, conversions to THF solubles plus gases were greater than 84%. The bituminous coal from the Matanuska coal field and the inertinite-rich coals from Northern Alaska and Chicago Creek were considerably less reactive; conversion yields of these coals ranged from 55 to 82%. A good correlation was found between total conversion and volatile matter content (R/sup 2/ of .835). Evaluation of the distribution of liquefaction products indicated that the low rank coals produced predominantly an oil plus gas fraction and few asphaltenes and preasphaltenes. The less reactive coals produced relatively equal distributions of the three product classes. A Cape Beaufort coal, UA-139, was selected for evaluating the behavior of inert macerals. Using float sink techniques, macrinites were concentrated in the 1.4 to 1.6 specific gravity fraction, and fusinite was concentrated more » in the 1.6 specific gravity sink fraction. Semifusinite was equally distributed in both of these fractions. 9 refs., 10 figs., 4 tabs. « less