Treatment of lignite and thermal coal with low cost amino acid based ionic liquid-water mixtures

摘要: Coal is a major resource in Australia, both for power generation and as an export good, however its environmental impact of significant concern. The structure coal inherently complex contains many heteroatoms, which negatively affect the combustion efficiency cause pollution. This study reveals that pretreatment two types Australian coal, lignite thermal bituminous with low cost choline amino acid based ionic liquids, markedly reduces particle size heteroatom content. method rapid (3 h) proceeds at temperature 70 °C. FTIR, NMR TGA analysis revealed pretreated has reduced aliphatic carbon, carbonyl groups sulphur compared to untreated coal. Choline arginate was best performing agent attributed multiple hydrogen bond acceptor sites on anion, facilitates strong interaction surface. These results open new pathways towards more energy efficient cleaner using liquids.