Abstract
L-can be converted easily in various yields to water soluble products, intermediate in molecular size between coal and carbon dioxide, combining by reaction with nitric acid and reaction times.
Both products which are water soluble and ether extractable were determined, and carbon dioxide too. The reaction is effected by the consumption of nitric acid only, but the reaction rate decreases with the decrease of concentration of nitric acid, and the products are decomposed secondarily by reaction with the residual nitric acid. Therefore, reaction time should not be so long.
The concentration of nitric acid should be from 15 to 20 per cent, and reaction from 5 to 10 hrs. as the optimum condition for the decomposition of lignite.
