Nitration of Jharia basin coals, India: a study of structural modifications by XRD and FTIR techniques

Abstract Four coal samples from Jharia basin, India are treated with nitric acid in glacial acetic and aqueous media to find out the chemical, petrographic spatial structure of organic mass by X-ray diffraction (XRD) Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. parameters like interlayer spacing ( d 002 ), crystallite size L c aroamticity f a average number aromatic layers N rank I 26 /I 20 ) have been determined using profile-fitting software. Considerable variation is observed coals comparison demineralized coals. The values increased both showing increase disordering moieties. A linear relationship has between volatile matter Similarly, show C dmf contents for as well media. decreased corresponding present study shows that nitration capable removing aliphatic side chains aromaticity increases vitrinite reflectance. least medium followed raw then medium. FTIR studies arenes converted into nitro-arenes structurally modified (SMCs) media, bands at 1550–1490 1355–1315 cm −1 respectively. confirms predominant phenomenon, though, oxidation phenomena takes place simultaneously during treatment form SMCs. In coals, SMCs higher may be easily derived products activated carbon specialty materials.