Mechanism analysis for supercritical ethanolysis of Huolinguole lignite

The dehydrated Huolinguole lignite (HL) together with the extracts and the extraction residues obtained from supercritical ethanolysis of HL were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR). The extracts were further analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The mechanism for supercritical ethanolysis of HL was discussed according to the analytical results. The supercritical ethanolysis of HL includes alkyl substitution and cleavage of ether bonds. The cleavage of ether bonds is mainly occurring in aliphatic ether bonds.