Swelling behavior of O-alkylated APCS coals as examined by the EPR spin probe method

Known O-alkylation procedures have been used to derivatize the carboxyl and hydroxyl groups in the APCS coals Lewiston-Stockton, Wyodak-Anderson, Beulah-Zap, Illinois {number_sign}6, Upper Freeport, and Pittsburgh {number_sign}8. In general the resulting decrease in hydrogen bonding reduced the cyclical variation in nitroxide spin probe retention observed for nonalkylated coals when small amounts (<1%) of pyridine are present in the toluene swelling solvent. An increase in spin probe retention by the O-alkylated coals relative to the underivatized coals indicates a more open arrangement in the coal due to a decrease in attractive forces, confirming that microporosity increases with increasing rank