Affiliations: Analytical Chemistry Division, North East Institute of
Science & Technology (CSIR), Jorhat-785006, Assam, India
Note: [] Corresponding author. Binoy K. Saikia, Department of Chemical
Sciences, Tezpur University, Napaam, Tezpur-784028, Assam, India. E-mail:
binoyrrl@yahoo.com
Abstract: Coal is one of the most abundant energy resources and has the
capability to meet future energy needs with high reliability. The basic
knowledge of coal structure is crucial to an understanding of the physical
properties of coal and chemistry of conversion processes such as gasification,
liquefaction, combustion and carbonization. Coal samples from Makum coalfield,
Assam, India were investigated by X-ray diffraction techniques. The highly
diffuse X-ray diffraction profiles indicate that the coals have amorphous
carbon in their structures. Some of the X-ray structural parameters were
evaluated by a semi-quantitative method. The parameters determine were
d_{002}, d_{10}, L_{a}
and L_{c} of various carbon contents
(wt%) of different collieries. Strong linear relationship of d_{002} with the wt% of carbon of the coals was observed.
The present
study reveals that the Assam coals consist of random layered structures with
turbostratic carbons.
Keywords: Indian coal, Assam coal, coal structure, random layered structure, X-ray scattering
