Oxidation and Self-Reaction of Carboxyl Groups During Coal Spontaneous Combustion.

Carboxyl groups play an important role during the development of coal self-heating. The real-time changing characteristics of carboxyl groups were obtained using anin situFourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy method. They are significantly influenced by reaction atmospheres. Under dry-air atmosphere, their quantity obviously decreases before reaching 120°C and then increases with temperature rise. Under oxygen-free atmosphere, it decreases before reaching 80°C and then increases with temperature rise. In contrast with direct oxidation process, the quantity of carboxyl groups is smaller and the decrease phenomenon at the beginning almost disappears during the oxidation process following oxygen-free reaction. The results indicate that the carboxyl groups have different reaction pathways during coal self-heating. These pathways can be divided into two kinds, that is, oxidation pathways and self-reaction pathways. The study proposed the reaction sequences of carboxyl groups during coal self-heating, which are helpful for revealing the mechanism of coal spontaneous combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]