Oxidation of Coal Pitch by H₂O₂ under Mild Conditions

Abstract

In order to expand the application of coal pitch, the H2O2 oxidation of coal pitch was employed to obtain some small molecular oxygen-containing aromatic compounds and to increase high-value-added products of coal pitch. The optimum oxidation conditions were determined by the oxygen conversion rate. The oxidation products were investigated with FTIR spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method. The results show that the coal pitch had been oxidized and depolymerized by H2O2 under mild conditions. The oxygen conversion rate was 59.06% at optimum condition of 60 °C, 6 h. The small molecular oxygen-containing aromatic compounds derived from this H2O2 oxidation are mainly grouped into alkanoic acids (AAs), aliphatic carboxylic acids (APCAs), benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCAs), and a small amount of alkylbenzenes (ABs). Finally, the oxidation process of coal pitch by H2O2 is speculated.