Experimental and theoretical study on molecular structure construction of Hongliulin coal

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) 2023-10, Vol.349, p.128708, Article 128708
• Main Authors: Jiang, Bingyou, Huang, Jinshan, Yu, Chang-Fei, Wang, Xiao-Han, Zhou, Yu, Zheng, Yuannan, Ji, Ben, Zhang, Qi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coal molecular model; Model optimization; Molecular simulation; Reliability validation
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2023.128708

•A three-dimensional molecular model of middle-rank bituminous coal is carefully constructed.•The reliability of the model was verified by FTIR, NMR, density and MEP methods.•The energy level orbital and electrostatic potential of the model is investigated. A suitable model can reflect the properties of coal well. In this study, the properties of HongLiuLin (HLL) coal were studied through industrial analysis, XPS, 13C NMR and FTIR. The results show the coal has middle-rank bituminous coal characteristics, and the ratio of aromatic bridge carbon to aromatic peripheral carbon is 0.16. Benzene and naphthalene ring are the main components of the aromatic structure. N and S exist in pyrrole nitrogen and fatty sulfur, respectively. The hypothesis method was used to deduce the molecular formula C130H73O21NS of the coal model. The stability of the carbon skeleton was improved through the Van Der Waals (VDW) forces in non-bonding energy. Verification of NMR, FTIR and density was completed based on quantum chemistry and molecular mechanics. The coal model energy level orbitals analysis shows that the LUMO and HOMO orbitals are located in the aromatic functional groups. This work provides a reference for further research on the nature of coal in north Shaanxi and improving the utilization rate of coal.