Investigating Coal’s Inertinite Components by IR and Raman Spectroscopy

The structural features of inertinite components in coal are studied by IR and Raman spectroscopy. Five samples of coal fractions (density 1.40–1.45 g/cm3) from coal of different metamorphic development are studied; their vitrinite reflection coefficients are 0.85–2.10%. Analysis of the Raman spectra indicates that the width of the G-band is less for inertinite samples of greater metamorphic development, on account of greater condensation of the aromatic rings and shortening of the alkyl chains. That agrees with the IR spectral data.