EFFECT OF SOLVENTS ON THERMAL-CRACKING OF MODEL COMPOUNDS TYPICAL OF COAL

Conversions of bibenzyl and dibenzyl ether as coal models depend on the nature of the solvent. When solvents that were poor hydrogen donors, but their dehydrogenated radicals were more stable than donors, were used, bibenzyl and dibenzyl ether conversion were markedly enhanced. Positive effects were observed by the mixing of tetralin with nondonor solvents. However, negative effects by such mixing were observed in the case of dibenzyl ether. Through this study, the importance of radical-induced decomposition on cracking of coal model compounds was suggested.