Influence of The Metamorphism Grade and Porosity of Hard Coal on Sorption and Desorption of Propane / Wpływ Stopnia Metamorfizmu I Porowatości Węgli Kamiennych Na Sorpcję I Desorpcję Propanu
Abstract In this paper results of investigations of sorption of hard coal samples collected from the extracted coal seams of Polish coal mines are presented. As sorbate propane was used. Examinations were carried out in the temperature of 298 K by means of volumetric assessment with the use of apparatus ASAP 2010 of Micromeritics. On the basis of conducted examinations it has been found out that the amount of sorbed propane depend on a type of coal, its metamorphism grade, content of oxygen element, moisture and porosity of these coals. The greatest amounts of propane are sorbed by low carbonized, high-porosity coals of high content of oxygen and moisture. Sorption of relatively high amounts of propane by these coals (ca. 10 cm3/g) is a result of the influence of polar surface of coals with molecules of propane and good availability of internal microporous structure of these coals for molecules of examined sorbate. Medium and high carbonized coals sorb insignificant amounts of propane. These coals have compact structure and non-polar character of their surface, their internal porous structure is to a minor degree available for propane molecules in conditions of carried out research. Sorption of propane in this case, takes place mainly in surface pores and on the surface of coals. Moreover, measurements of desorption isotherms of propane showing irreversible character of sorption were made. Desorption isotherms do not come together with sorption isotherms forming open hysteresis loop. Amounts of non-desorbing propane remaining in the coal depend on the type of examined coal.