Abstract
In our research, both continuous flow and pulse injection methods were applied for characterizing methanol adsorption on a coal surface. Akabira bituminous coal and Yallourn brown coal were used as samples. Akabira bituminous coal was heated in air to increase surface oxygen functional groups, while Yallourn brown coal was heated with tetralin as a solvent to decrease surface oxygen functional groups. These thermally processed coal samples were employed as adsorbents, and the interactions of methanol with such coal surfaces are examined on the basis of molar heats of methanol adsorption. The adsorption profiles had the same shape of Langmuir, regardless of thermal processes. However, the distribution of molar heat shifted to lower positions or to higher positions with the increment or decrement of surface oxygen functional groups.
