Thin Layer Chromatographic Screening of Coal Liquids

Abstract

Procedures are described for the thin layer chromatographic (TLC) analysis of coal-derived liquids. After solvent selection using Selectosol (1) radial TLC, a series of compounds typically found in coal liquids was used to demonstrate their elution behavior on silica gel. It was determined that unactivated (Brockman 4) silica plates series developed with isooctane/tetrahydrofuran (THF) (80:20, v/v) provided the best separation. The order of elution was saturate >hydroaromatic >polynuclear aromatic (PNA)>phenols ≥ nitrogen bases. The use of two-dimensional TLC with reverse phase and silica contiguous on the same plate (Whatman Multi-K) is discussed for the rapid separation and identification of coal liquid components. Trimethylsilyl ether derivatives were prepared of phenols and alcohols present in coal conversion products. This technique proved most useful in that the TMS-derivatives behaved similarly to their parent PNA, in order of elution, on silica plates using a moderately active mobile phase (isooctane: THF,80:20, v/v). TLC and the reactions described provide a semi-quantitative measure of the degree of hydrogenation of coal-derived liquids.