Application of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to examination of carbonized coal blends

Paramagnetic centers in two- and three-component coal blends carbonized at 1000 °C were studied by X-band (9.3 GHz) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. The blends were prepared from three different Polish coals with carbon contents [wt.%]: 88.66, 86.21, and 82.67, respectively. The aim of this work was to compare EPR parameters and concentrations of paramagnetic centers in the initial and carbonized coal samples. Furthermore the spin–spin and spin–lattice interactions were characterized.EPR spectra were measured with magnetic modulation 100 kHz and microwave power 0.7 mW. Amplitudes and linewidths of EPR spectra were obtained. g-Factors were calculated from resonance condition. Concentrations of paramagnetic centers in the samples were determined. Influence of microwave power in the range 0.7–70 mW on EPR spectra was analyzed.All the studied samples revealed paramagnetism. Unpaired electrons are localized in the same atoms, because similar g-values in the range 2.0035–2.0038 were obtained for all the original samples. The EPR parameters of coal blends were additive in comparison with the parent coals. EPR spectra strongly changed after carbonization of the coal samples. Narrower EPR lines were measured for the original coal samples than for carbonized ones. We detected lower concentrations of paramagnetic centers in carbonized three-component coal blends than in two-component carbonized blends. EPR lines of the studied carbonized blends were not saturated at the microwave power used, which suggests fast spin–lattice relaxation processes in the samples. EPR examination proved chemical interactions between coal constituents during carbonization of coal blends.