LAUSR

Lignite ethanolysis is one of efficient conversion processes. In our previous study, Zhaotong lignite (ZL) from Southwest China was subjected to ethanolysis to afford ethanol-soluble portion and ethanolyzed residue (ER). The structural features of ZL and ER were investigated by ruthenium ion-catalyzed oxidation (RICO) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry. The pyrolytic reactivities of ZL and ER were examined with a thermogravimetric analyzer and Curie-point pyrolyzer-gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. The results show that both ZL and ER are rich in –CH2CH2– and –CH2CH2CH2– bridged linkages connecting aromatic rings. Comparing with the RICO of ZL, the RICO of ER produced much less long-chain alkanoic acids and alkanedioic acids, suggesting that long alkylene bridges and alkyl side chains in ZL were largely cleaved via ethanolysis. Interestingly, ZL has higher condensation degree than ER, which was confirmed by RICO and solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. The result was exp...