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Qualitative and quantitative analysis of Dibenzofuran, Alkyldibenzofurans, and Benzo[b]naphthofurans in crude oils and source rock extracts

Dibenzofuran (DBF), its alkylated homologues, and benzo[b]naphthofurans (BNFs) are common oxygen-heterocyclic aromatic compounds in crude oils and source rock extracts. A series of positional isomers of alkyldibenzofuran and benzo[b]naphthofuran were identified in mass chromatograms by comparison with internal standards and standard retention indices. The response factors of dibenzofuran in relation to internal standards were obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of a set of mixed solutions with different concentration ratios. Perdeuterated dibenzofuran and dibenzothiophene are optimal internal standards for quantitative analyses of furan compounds in crude oils and source rock extracts. The average concentration of the total DBFs in oils derived from siliciclastic lacustrine rock extracts from the Beibuwan Basin, South China Sea, was 518 μg/g, which is about 5 times that observed in the oils from carbonate source rocks in the Tarim Basin, Northwest China. The BNFs occur ubiquitously in source rock extracts and related oils of various origins. The results of this work suggest that the relative abundance of benzo[b]naphthofuran isomers, that is, the benzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]furan/{benzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]furan + benzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]furan} ratio, may be a potential molecular geochemical parameter to indicate oil migration pathways and distances.

Energy & Fuels↗

Using ground and intact coal Samples to evaluate hydrocarbon fate during supercritical CO 2 injection into coal beds: effects of particle size and coal moisture

To investigate the potential for mobilizing organic compounds from coal beds during geologic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) storage (sequestration), a series of solvent extractions using dichloromethane (DCM) and using supercritical CO 2 (40 °C and 10 MPa) were conducted on a set of coal samples collected from Louisiana and Ohio. The coal samples studied range in rank from lignite A to high volatile A bituminous, and were characterized using proximate, ultimate, organic petrography, and sorption isotherm analyses. Sorption isotherm analyses of gaseous CO 2 and methane show a general increase in gas storage capacity with coal rank, consistent with findings from previous studies. In the solvent extractions, both dry, ground coal samples and moist, intact core plug samples were used to evaluate effects of variations in particle size and moisture content. Samples were spiked with perdeuterated surrogate compounds prior to extraction, and extracts were analyzed via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The DCM extracts generally contained the highest concentrations of organic compounds, indicating the existence of additional hydrocarbons within the coal matrix that were not mobilized during supercritical CO 2 extractions. Concentrations of aliphatic and aromatic compounds measured in supercritical CO 2 extracts of core plug samples generally are lower than concentrations in corresponding extracts of dry, ground coal samples, due to differences in particle size and moisture content. Changes in the amount of extracted compounds and in surrogate recovery measured during consecutive supercritical CO 2 extractions of core plug samples appear to reflect the transition from a water-wet to a CO 2 -wet system. Changes in coal core plug mass during supercritical CO 2 extraction range from 3.4% to 14%, indicating that a substantial portion of coal moisture is retained in the low-rank coal samples. Moisture retention within core plug samples, especially in low-rank coals, appears to inhibit accessibility of supercritical CO 2 to coal matrix porosity, limiting the extent to which hydrocarbons are mobilized. Conversely, the enhanced recovery of some surrogates from core plugs relative to dry, ground coal samples might indicate that, once mobilized, supercritical CO 2 is capable of transporting these constituents through coal beds. These results underscore the need for using intact coal samples, and for better characterization of forms of water in coal, to understand fate and transport of organic compounds during supercritical CO 2 injection into coal beds.

Energy & Fuels↗

Multivariate analysis relating oil shale geochemical properties to NMR relaxometry

Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry has been used to provide insight into shale composition by separating relaxation responses from the various hydrogen-bearing phases present in shales in a noninvasive way. Previous low-field NMR work using solid-echo methods provided qualitative information on organic constituents associated with raw and pyrolyzed oil shale samples, but uncertainty in the interpretation of longitudinal-transverse ( T 1 – T 2 ) relaxometry correlation results indicated further study was required. Qualitative confirmation of peaks attributed to kerogen in oil shale was achieved by comparing T 1 – T 2 correlation measurements made on oil shale samples to measurements made on kerogen isolated from those shales. Quantitative relationships between T 1 – T 2 correlation data and organic geochemical properties of raw and pyrolyzed oil shales were determined using partial least-squares regression (PLSR). Relaxometry results were also compared to infrared spectra, and the results not only provided further confidence in the organic matter peak interpretations but also confirmed attribution of T 1 – T 2 peaks to clay hydroxyls. In addition, PLSR analysis was applied to correlate relaxometry data to trace element concentrations with good success. The results of this work show that NMR relaxometry measurements using the solid-echo approach produce T 1 – T 2 peak distributions that correlate well with geochemical properties of raw and pyrolyzed oil shales.

Energy & Fuels↗

Origins of thiadiamondoids and diamondoidthiols in petroleum

Thiadiamondoids and diamondoidthiols are orders of magnitude more abundant in oil altered by thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) than they are in nonaltered oil. This suggests that thiadiamondoids and diamondoidthiols form during TSR. In order to prove this hypothesis, we perform laboratory TSR experiments on diverse organic compounds using sodium sulfate as an oxidant in the presence of elemental sulfur and deionized water at 200 and 350 °C for 48 and 96 h under acidic conditions (pH = 4). Our results show that thiadiamondoids and diamondoidthiols can be created from non-sulfur-containing diamondoids by TSR. It seems likely that diamondoid species are organic precursors of thiadiamondoids and diamondoidthiols. In addition, thiocholesterol yields trace quantities of dimethyl-2-thiaadamantanes when heated with montmorillonite at 200 °C, suggesting that these diamondoid derivatives may partly originate by molecular rearrangement of polycyclic sulfides and thiols in the presence of acidic clay minerals since they also exist in crude oil that has not undergone TSR. The present study of these heteroatomic cage compounds improves understanding of TSR and can be used to reduce risk in petroleum exploration.

Energy and Fuels↗

Meso- and micropore characteristics of coal lithotypes: Implications for CO2 adsorption

Lithotypes (vitrain, clarain, and fusain) of high volatile bituminous Pennsylvanian coals (Ro of 0.56-0.62%) from Indiana (the Illinois Basin) have been studied with regard to meso- and micropore characteristics using low-pressure nitrogen and carbon dioxide adsorption techniques, respectively. High-pressure CO2 adsorption isotherms were obtained from lithotypes of the Lower Block Coal Member (the Brazil Formation) and the Springfield Coal Member (the Petersburg Formation), and after evacuation of CO2, the lithotypes were re-analyzed for meso- and micropore characteristics to investigate changes related to high-pressure CO2 adsorption. Coal lithotypes have differing Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas and mesopore volumes, with significantly lower values in fusains than in vitrains or clarains. Fusains have very limited pore volume in the pore size width of 4-10 nm, and the volume, increases with an increase in pore size, in contrast to vitrain, for which a 4-10 nm range is the dominant pore'Wlidth. For clarain, both pores of 4-10 nm and pores larger than 20 nm contribute substantially to the mesoporosity. Micropore surface areas are the smallest for fusain (from 72.8 to 98.2 m2/g), largest for vitrain (from 125.0 to,158.4 m2 /g), and intermediate for clarain (from 110.5 to 124.4 m2/g). Similar relationships are noted for micropore volumes, and the lower values of these parameters in fusains are related to smaller volumes of all incremental micropore sizes. In the Springfield and the Lower Block Coal Members, among lithotypes studied, fusain has the lowest adsorption capacity. For the Lower Block, vitrain has significantly higher adsorption capacity than fusain and clarain, whereas for the Springfield, vitrain and clarain have comparable but still significantly higher adsorption capacities than fusain. The Lower Block vitrain and fusain have much higher adsorption capacities than those in the Springfield, whereas the clarains of the two coals are comparable. After exposure of coal to CO2 at high pressure, vitrains experienced the largest porosity changes among all lithotypes studied. These changes are dominantly manifested in the mesoporosity (decrease in mesopore volume) range; whereas little to no change occurred in the micropore size range. In other lithotypes (clarains, the dominant lithology in the coals studied, and sporadic fusains), the changes were minimal. ?? 2008 American Chemical Society.

Energy and Fuels↗

Methane hydrate synthesis from ice: Influence of pressurization and ethanol on optimizing formation rates and hydrate yield

Polycrystalline methane gas hydrate (MGH) was synthesized using an ice-seeding method to investigate the influence of pressurization and ethanol on the hydrate formation rate and gas yield of the resulting samples. When the reactor is pressurized with CH 4 gas without external heating, methane hydrate can be formed from ice grains with yields up to 25% under otherwise static conditions. The rapid temperature rise caused by pressurization partially melts the granular ice, which reacts with methane to form hydrate rinds around the ice grains. The heat generated by the exothermic reaction of methane hydrate formation buffers the sample temperature near the melting point of ice for enough time to allow for continuous hydrate growth at high rates. Surprisingly, faster rates and higher yields of methane hydrate were found in runs with lower initial temperatures, slower rates of pressurization, higher porosity of the granular ice samples, or mixtures with sediments. The addition of ethanol also dramatically enhanced the formation of polycrystalline MGH. This study demonstrates that polycrystalline MGH with varied physical properties suitable for different laboratory tests can be manufactured by controlling synthesis procedures or parameters. Subsequent dissociation experiments using a gas collection apparatus and flowmeter confirmed high methane saturation (CH 4 · 2 O, with n = 5.82 ± 0.03) in the MGH. Dissociation rates of the various samples synthesized at diverse conditions may be fitted to different rate laws, including zero and first order.

Energy and Fuels↗

Unified mechanism of alkali and alkaline earth catalyzed gasification reactions of carbon by CO2 and H2O

From molecular orbital calculations, a unified mechanism is proposed for the gasification reactions of graphite by CO 2 and H 2 O, both uncatalyzed and catalyzed by alkali and alkaline earth catalysts. In this mechanism, there are two types of oxygen intermediates that are bonded to the active edge carbon atoms: an in-plane semiquinone type, C f (O), and an off-plane oxygen bonded to two saturated carbon atoms that are adjacent to the semiquinone species, C(O)C f (O). The rate-limiting step is the decomposition of these intermediates by breaking the C−C bonds that are connected to C f (O). A new rate equation is derived for the uncatalyzed reactions, and that for the catalyzed reactions is readily available from the proposed mechanism. The proposed mechanism can account for several unresolved experimental observations: TPD and TK (transient kinetics) desorption results of the catalyzed systems, the similar activation energies for the uncatalyzed and catalyzed reactions, and the relative activities of the alkali and alkaline earth elements. The net charge of the edge carbon active site is substantially changed by gaining electron density from the alkali or alkaline earth element (by forming C−O−M, where M stands for metal). The relative catalytic activities of these elements can be correlated with their abilities of donating electrons and changing the net charge of the edge carbon atom. As shown previously (Chen, S. G.; Yang, R. T. J . Catal . 1993 , 141 , 102), only clusters of the alkali compounds are active. This derives from the ability of the clusters to dissociate CO 2 and H 2 O to form O atoms and the mobility of the dissociated O atoms facilitated by the clusters.

Energy and Fuels↗

Production of activated char from Illinois coal for flue gas cleanup

Activated chars were produced from Illinois coal and tested in several flue gas cleanup applications. High-activity chars that showed excellent potential for both SO 2 and NO x removal were prepared from an Illinois No. 2 bituminous coal. The SO 2 (120 °C) and NO x (25 °C) removal performance of one char compared favorably with that of a commercial activated carbon (Calgon Centaur). The NO x removal performance of the same char at 120 °C exceeded that of the Centaur carbon by more than 1 order of magnitude. Novel char preparation methods were developed including oxidation/thermal desorption and hydrogen treatments, which increased and preserved, respectively, the active sites for SO 2 and NO x adsorption. The results of combined SO 2 /NO x removal tests, however, suggest that SO 2 and NO x compete for similar adsorption sites and SO 2 seems to be more strongly adsorbed than NO. A low-activity, low-cost char was also developed for cleanup of incinerator flue gas. A three-step method involving coal preoxidation, pyrolysis, and CO 2 activation was used to produce the char from Illinois coal. Five hundred pounds of the char was tested on a slipstream of flue gas from a commercial incinerator in Germany. The char was effective in removing >97% of the dioxins and furans present in the flue gas; mercury levels were below detectable limits.

Energy and Fuels↗

Mechanism of SO2 removal by carbon

The reaction of SO 2 with carbon (C) in the presence of O 2 and H 2 O involves a series of reactions that leads to the formation of sulfuric acid as the final product. The rate-determining step in the overall process is the oxidation of SO 2 to SO 3 . Three SO 2 oxidation reactions are possible. Adsorbed SO 2 (C−SO 2 ) can react either with gas phase O 2 or with adsorbed oxygen (C−O complex) to form sulfur trioxide (SO 3 ), or gas phase SO 2 can react directly with the C−O complex. In optimizing the SO 2 removal capabilities of carbon, most studies only assume a given mechanism for SO 2 adsorption and conversion to H 2 SO 4 to be operable. The appropriate SO 2 oxidation step and role of the C−O complex in this mechanism remain to be determined. The ultimate goal of this study was to prepare activated char from Illinois coal with optimal properties for low-temperature (80−150°C) removal of sulfur dioxide from coal combustion flue gas. The SO 2 adsorption capacity of activated char was found to be inversely proportional to the amount of oxygen adsorbed on its surface. A temperature-programmed desorption technique was developed to titrate those sites responsible for adsorption of SO 2 and conversion to H 2 SO 4 . On the basis of these results, a mechanism for SO 2 removal by carbon was proposed. The derived rate expression showed SO 2 adsorption to be dependent only on the fundamental rate constant and concentration of carbon atoms designated as free sites. Recent studies indicate a similar relationship exists between the rate of carbon gasification (in CO 2 or H 2 O) and the number of reactive sites as determined by transient kinetics experiments. Utilizing the concept of active or free sites, it was possible to produce a char from Illinois coal having an SO 2 adsorption capacity surpassing that of a commercial catalytic activated carbon.

Energy and Fuels↗

Adsorption of SO 2 on bituminous coal char and activated carbon fiber

The SO 2 adsorption behaviors of activated carbons produced from Illinois coal and of commercially prepared activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were compared. There was no relation between surface area of coal-based carbons and SO 2 adsorption, whereas adsorption of SO 2 on the series of ACFs was inversely proportional to N 2 BET surface area. Higher surface area ACFs had wider pores and adsorbed less SO 2 ; thus, pore size distribution is thought to play a significant role in SO 2 adsorption for these materials. Oxidation with HNO 3 and/or H 2 SO 4 , followed by heat treatment at 700−925°C to remove carbon−oxygen complexes, resulted in increased SO 2 adsorption for both coal chars and ACFs. This behavior was explained by an increase in the available number of free sites, previously occupied by oxygen and now available for SO 2 adsorption. The use of nitrogen-containing functional groups on ACFs of proper pore size shows promise for further increasing SO 2 adsorption capacities. Knowledge of the relationship among the number of free sites, pore size, and surface chemistry on corresponding SO 2 adsorption should lead to the development of more efficient adsorbents prepared from either coal or ACFs.

Energy and Fuels↗

Adsorbed natural gas storage with activated carbons made from Illinois coals and scrap tires

Activated carbons for natural gas storage were produced from Illinois bituminous coals (IBC-102 and IBC-106) and scrap tires by physical activation with steam or CO 2 and by chemical activation with KOH, H 3 PO 4 , or ZnCl 2 . The products were characterized for N 2 -BET area, micropore volume, bulk density, pore size distribution, and volumetric methane storage capacity ( V m / V s ). V m / V s values for Illinois coal-derived carbons ranged from 54 to 83 cm 3 /cm 3 , which are 35−55% of a target value of 150 cm 3 /cm 3 . Both granular and pelletized carbons made with preoxidized Illinois coal gave higher micropore volumes and larger V m / V s values than those made without preoxidation. This confirmed that preoxidation is a desirable step in the production of carbons from caking materials. Pelletization of preoxidized IBC-106 coal, followed by steam activation, resulted in the highest V m / V s value. With roughly the same micropore volume, pelletization alone increased V m / V s of coal carbon by 10%. Tire-derived carbons had V m / V s values ranging from 44 to 53 cm 3 /cm 3 , lower than those of coal carbons due to their lower bulk densities. Pelletization of the tire carbons increased bulk density up to 160%. However, this increase was offset by a decrease in micropore volume of the pelletized materials, presumably due to the pellet binder. As a result, V m / V s values were about the same for granular and pelletized tire carbons. Compared with coal carbons, tire carbons had a higher percentage of mesopores and macropores.

Energy and Fuels↗

Polycrystalline methane hydrate: Synthesis from superheated ice, and low-temperature mechanical properties

We describe a new and efficient technique to grow aggregates of pure methane hydrate in quantities suitable for physical and material properties testing. Test specimens were grown under static conditions by combining cold, pressurized CH 4 gas with granulated H 2 O ice, and then warming the reactants to promote the reaction CH 4 (g) + 6H 2 O(s→l) → CH 4 ·6H 2 O (methane hydrate). Hydrate formation evidently occurs at the nascent ice/liquid water interface on ice grain surfaces, and complete reaction was achieved by warming the system above the ice melting point and up to 290 K, at 25−30 MPa, for approximately 8 h. The resulting material is pure, cohesive, polycrystalline methane hydrate with controlled grain size and random orientation. Synthesis conditions placed the H 2 O ice well above its melting temperature while reaction progressed, yet samples and run records showed no evidence for bulk melting of the unreacted portions of ice grains. Control experiments using Ne, a non-hydrate-forming gas, showed that under otherwise identical conditions, the pressure reduction and latent heat associated with ice melting are easily detectable in our fabrication apparatus. These results suggest that under hydrate-forming conditions, H 2 O ice can persist metastably to temperatures well above its ordinary melting point while reacting to form hydrate. Direct observations of the hydrate growth process in a small, high-pressure optical cell verified these conclusions and revealed additional details of the hydrate growth process. Methane hydrate samples were then tested in constant-strain-rate deformation experiments at T = 140−200 K, P c = 50−100 MPa, and ε = 10 - 4 −10 - 6 s - 1 . Measurements in both the brittle and ductile fields showed that methane hydrate has measurably different strength than H 2 O ice, and work hardens to an unusually high degree compared to other ices as well as to most metals and ceramics at high homologous temperatures. This work hardening may be related to a changing stoichiometry under pressure during plastic deformation; X-ray analyses showed that methane hydrate undergoes a process of solid-state disproportionation or exsolution during deformation at conditions well within its conventional stability field.

Energy and Fuels↗

Gas hydrate formation in the deep sea: In situ experiments with controlled release of methane, natural gas, and carbon dioxide

We have utilized a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to initiate a program of research into gas hydrate formation in the deep sea by controlled release of hydrocarbon gases and liquid CO 2 into natural sea water and marine sediments. Our objectives were to investigate the formation rates and growth patterns of gas hydrates in natural systems and to assess the geochemical stability of the reaction products over time. The novel experimental procedures used the carrying capacity, imaging capability, and control mechanisms of the ROV to transport gas cylinders to depth and to open valves selectively under desired P − T conditions to release the gas either into contained natural sea water or into sediments. In experiments in Monterey Bay, California, at 910 m depth and 3.9 °C water temperature we find hydrate formation to be nearly instantaneous for a variety of gases. In sediments the pattern of hydrate formation is dependent on the pore size, with flooding of the pore spaces in a coarse sand yielding a hydrate cemented mass, and gas channeling in a fine-grained mud creating a veined hydrate structure. In experiments with liquid CO 2 the released globules appeared to form a hydrate skin as they slowly rose in the apparatus. An initial attempt to leave the experimental material on the sea floor for an extended period was partially successful; we observed an apparent complete dissolution of the liquid CO 2 mass, and an apparent consolidation of the CH 4 hydrate, over a period of about 85 days.

Energy and Fuels↗

Preparation and evaluation of coal-derived activated carbons for removal of mercury vapor from simulated coal combustion flue fases

Coal-derived activated carbons (CDACs) were tested for their suitability in removing trace amounts of vapor-phase mercury from simulated flue gases generated by coal combustion. CDACs were prepared in bench-scale and pilot-scale fluidized-bed reactors with a three-step process, including coal preoxidation, carbonization, and then steam activation. CDACs from high-organicsulfur Illinois coals had a greater equilibrium Hg0 adsorption capacity than activated carbons prepared from a low-organic-sulfur Illinois coal. When a low-organic-sulfur CDAC was impregnated with elemental sulfur at 600 ??C, its equilibrium Hg0 adsorption capacity was comparable to the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon prepared from the high-organicsulfur coal. X-ray diffraction and sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure examinations showed that the sulfur in the CDACs was mainly in organic forms. These results suggested that a portion of the inherent organic sulfur in the starting coal, which remained in the CDACs, played an important role in adsorption of Hg0. Besides organic sulfur, the BET surface area and micropore area of the CDACs also influenced Hg0 adsorption capacity. The HgCl2 adsorption capacity was not as dependent on the surface area and concentration of sulfur in the CDACs as was adsorption of Hg0. The properties and mercury adsorption capacities of the CDACs were compared with those obtained for commercial Darco FGD carbon.

Energy and Fuels↗

Correlating N2 and CH4 adsorption on microporous carbon using a new analytical model

A new pore size distribution (PSD) model is developed to readily describe PSDs of microporous materials with an analytical expression. Results from this model can be used to calculate the corresponding adsorption isotherm to compare the calculated isotherm to the experimental isotherm. This aspect of the model provides another check on the validity of the model's results. The model is developed on the basis of a 3-D adsorption isotherm equation that is derived from statistical mechanical principles. Least-squares error minimization is used to solve the PSD without any preassumed distribution function. In comparison with several well-accepted analytical methods from the literature, this 3-D model offers a relatively realistic PSD description for select reference materials, including activated-carbon fibers. N2 and CH4 adsorption is correlated using the 3-D model for commercial carbons BPL and AX-21. Predicted CH4 adsorption isotherms at 296 K based on N2 adsorption at 77 K are in reasonable agreement with experimental CH4 isotherms. Use of the model is also described for characterizing PSDs of tire-derived activated carbons and coal-derived activated carbons for air-quality control applications.

Energy and Fuels↗

Sorption and modeling of mass transfer of toxic chemical vapors in activated-carbon fiber-cloth adsorbers

A new activated-carbon fiber-cloth (ACFC) adsorber coupled with an electrothermal regenerator and a cryogenic condenser was designed and developed to efficiently capture and recover toxic chemical vapors (TCVs) from simulated industrial gas streams. The system was characterized for adsorption by ACFC, electrothermal desorption, and cryogenic condensation to separate acetone and methyl ethyl ketone from gas streams. Adsorption dynamics are numerically modeled to predict system characteristics during scale-up and optimization of the process in the future. The model requires diffusivities of TCVs into an activated-carbon fiber (ACF) as an input. Effective diffusivities of TCVs into ACFs were modeled as a function of temperature, concentration, and pore size distribution. Effective diffusivities for acetone at 65 °C and 30−60 ppmv were measured using a chromatography method. The energy factor for surface diffusion was determined from comparison between the experimental and modeled effective diffusivities. The modeled effective diffusivities were used in a dispersive computational model to predict mass transfer zones of TCVs in fixed beds of ACFC under realistic conditions for industrial applications.

Energy and Fuels↗

Adsorption of SO 2 on bituminous coal char and activated carbon fiber prepared from phenol formaldehyde

Carbon-based materials are used commercially to remove SO 2 from coal combustion flue gases. Historically, these materials have consisted of granular activated carbons prepared from lignite or bituminous coal. Recent studies have reported that activated carbon fibers (ACFs) may have potential in this application due to their relatively high SO 2 adsorption capacity. In this paper, a comparison of SO 2 adsorption for both coal-based carbons and ACFs is presented, as well as ideas on carbon properties that may influence SO 2 adsorption

ACS Division of Fuel Chemistry, Preprints↗