Researches on the chemistry of coal. Part I.-The action of pyridine upon the coal substance

The experiments recorded in this paper are part of a research carried out in the Department of Chemical Technology at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, at the instance of the British Association Fuel Economy Committee, with the double object of clearing up certain discrepancies in the work of previous investigators and of gaining further knowledge of the chief types of constituents contained in the coal substance. One of the authors having recently reviewed at some length the present state of science with regard to the composition of coal in his monograph on “Coal and its Scientific Uses” (pp. 35 to 163 inclusive) there is no need to treat of the matter again at any great length here. Special attention may, however, be drawn to the summarised statements given on pp.111 to 112 and 124 to 128 (inclusive) of that monograph concerning the results and views of previous workers and the present state of our knowledge with regard to the primary action of heat upon coal.