Effect of irradiation by an accelerated electron beam on the reactivity ofbrown coal for conversion into low molecular products

The effects of irradiation pretreatment of brown coal by an accelerated ele ctron beam on its composition, tetrahydrofuran swelling and hydrogenation r eactivity for the destruction into the low molecular and soluble products w ere studied. A comparison with the hydrogenation reactivity of the same coa l pretreated using conventional chemical and mechanical procedures was made . Ionizing irradiation of coal in polar ethanol solvent was shown to be the most beneficial procedure as compared to different chemical and mechano-ch emical methods. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.