摘要

This study details an in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analytical system that was employed to follow chemical variations in the functional groups on coal surface during the oxidation process at low temperatures. In the reported in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy system, a special chamber was used to contain the coal powders, and a gas inlet tube and a programmable heater were used to simulate different reaction atmospheres and temperatures. The comparisons between in situ and ex situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra indicate that the in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data offer a more accurate reflection of changes in the functional groups. The real-time changes of aliphatic hydrocarbon groups and oxygen-containing groups in a lignite coal sample were analyzed from 30 degrees C to 220 degrees C using in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The experimental results indicate that the chemical variations in the functional groups are affected by their relative chemical activities. The results show that the presence of aliphatic groups on the coal surface varies with temperature. Over the range of 30-70 degrees C the presence of these groups decreases, but then their abundance increases over the range of 70-180 degrees C and finally decreases again when the temperature is increased to between 180 degrees C and 220 degrees C. With respect to oxygen-containing functional groups, three various trends were observed as the test temperature was varied. Our conclusion was that these variations are a function of the reaction activities of the various oxygen-containing functional groups.