DISSOLUTION OF LIGNITES IN TETRALIN AT AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE - EFFECTS OF ULTRAVIOLET-IRRADIATION

The effects of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, acid treatment and sunlig ht on the dissolution of Turkish lignites in tetralin have been invest igated. Original and 0.01 N HCl washed Lignite samples were exposed to W irradiation for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h and two samples were also exposed to sunlight for 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. Tetrahydrofuran (TI-IF) s oluble products were separated into three fractions: hexane solubles ( oils), toluene solubles (asphaltenes) and toluene insolubles (preaspha ltenes). As the irradiation period increased from 24 to 120 h, the yie ld of THF solubles increased. Sunlight had similar effects. Solubiliza tion of 50% of the organic structure can be achieved, however, the yie ld of THF solubles depends on the Lignite samples. Removal of exchange able cations resulted in a decrease in the THF solubles at longer reac tion times. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.