Volatiles mass transport within particles of softened coal. Technical progress report, March 7-August 12, 1985

This report summarizes results of studies of pyrolysis conditions on the yields and molecular weight distributions of pyridine extractables generated during the pyrolysis of bituminous coals and other starting materials of interest in modern fuels and energy technology. There is a growing body of evidence that for softening coals these extracts are a useful measure of the inventory of plasticizing agent within the coal at the time of quenching. Better quantitative understanding of how these yields, and other properties, change with reaction conditions, and with type of starting material, is expected to shed light on the softening behavior of coal, and on the thermal chemical reaction behavior of these coals and other condensed phase substrates. 15 figs.