SUPERCRITICAL TOLUENE EXTRACTION OF A REDUCED TURKISH LIGNITE

Elbistan-Afsin lignite, 64.2% C (daf), was reduced with lithium in THF in the presence of purified naphthalene as an electron transfer agent . The reduced lignite was then extracted with supercritical toluene. E ven under comparatively mild conditions, 340 degrees C, relatively lar ge yields of supercritical extract were obtained, almost all of which dissolved in benzene. The n-pentane-soluble and benzene-soluble fracti ons of the extract were eluted using column chromatography. Less than half of the originally soluble material could be eluted with n-pentane or benzene, the total methanol eluates amounting to 56.1% of the init ial extract. The eluates were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spec trometry. The amount of phenol was 23.6% of the original benzene solub le fraction. It was concluded that bond cleavage had taken place durin g the reduction of the lignite. The naphthalene used as an electron tr ansfer agent participated in side reactions.