Combination of electron beam irradiation and electro-reduction—A novel method for direct coal liquefaction

A novel method was developed to combine electron beam irradiation with electrochemical reduction to increase coal liquefaction degree. Coal samples were irradiated by a stream of high energy electron beam. The samples were treated with tetrahydrofuran to extract the possible products from electron beam irradiation. The products were analyzed to calculate the yield. It was observed that the extract yield increased as the absorbed doses increased, but the increase was more significant when the absorbed dose was 25 kGy in O₂ atmosphere. The irradiated samples were further electrochemically reduced in sodium hydroxide electrolyte solution for liquefaction. Corresponding elemental analyses, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, linear sweep voltammetry, nuclear magnetic resonance and chronoamperometry were employed to investigate the effects of the electron beam irradiation on the electrochemical reduction of coal.