Characterization of Coal-Derived Liquids Using Fused Silica Capillary Column GC-MS

Abstract

This study was initiated first, to produce capillary column gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) chromatograms of complex coal-derived liquids with similar resolution and characteristics to gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) work; second, to find a commercially available capillary column that would provide excellent resolution and good behavior for the wide range of compounds found in coal liquids; and third, to analyze a solvent-refined coal recycle solvent and its functional-group subtractions to produce a detailed list of its components. A fused silica SE-54 column was found to meet all the necessary criteria. Its combination of flexibility, inertness, resolution, and high temperature limit allowed analysis of nitrogen bases, neutral aromatic and non-aromatic species, and hydroxy-aromatics in these complex mixtures.