CORRELATION BETWEEN MICROPOROSITY AND FRACTAL DIMENSION OF BITUMINOUSCOAL-BASED ON COMPUTER-GENERATED MODELS

Using computer-generated three-dimensional molecular models, we verify that the surface area of vitrinite from HvC bituminous coal depends o n the size of the unit used to measure the surface (the adsorbate size ), the size of the model (the particle size), and the micropore size d istribution. By varying these three factors, we demonstrate that the s urface area of our bituminous coal models is characterized by a single number (D = 2.71)-the fractal dimension. Our micropore size distribut ion, which is a consequence of the fractal dimension, reveals that mos t of the micropores are ultramicroporous (having an pore entrance size less than 0.8 nm).