MICROPORE SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS AND SPECIFIC INTERACTIONS IN COALS

Micropore surface areas, pore size distributions and pore volumes were determined for four brown coals, one medium-volatile subbituminous coal, one high-volatile subbituminous coal, and one low-volatile bituminous coal by carbon dioxide adsorption at 273 K. For comparison, BET surface areas were determined for two of the brown coals by nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. Surface areas were consistent with published values. The micropore size distributions obtained using the Dubinin-Medek approach were found to be independent of coal rank and functional groups.