Molecular composition of soluble organic species in Baiyinhua lignite and their evolution profiles during pyrolysis

To investigate the molecular composition of soluble organic species in Baiyinhua lignite (BL) and their evolution profiles during pyrolysis, BL was firstly pyrolyzed in a fixed-bed reactor, affording gaseous products, tars and chars, then BL and its chars were thermally dissolved in supercritical methanol affording soluble portions (SPs). The composition and structural characteristics of the SPs and tars were analyzed with a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. The results indicate that most of the soluble organic species can be released from BL below 500 °C during pyrolysis. Abundant soluble long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons and carboxylic acids wrap around the aromatic nucleus in BL. According to the difference between the composition and structural characteristics of the SPs and tars, the evolution profiles of the soluble organic species from BL pyrolysis were discussed in detail.