The geosynthesis of alkylaromatics

John W. Smith, Simon C. George, Barry D. Batts

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Phenanthrene, anthracene and pyrene have been pyrolysed in sealed reactors in the presence of coal. No methylation occurs at 220°C but increasing amounts of methylaromatics are formed at temperatures to 350 or 400°C. This methylation provides support for geosynthetic processes in sediments, because the experimental conditions used may be thermally equated to Ro values of 0.63-2.03%. The high concentration of n-alkanes generated from the coal may play a crucial role in such reactions. With increasing temperature there are systematic and theoretically predictable increases in the ratio of the β/α substituted methyl isomers of the parent aromatic hydrocarbons. The greater proportions of β-substituted isomers in the methyl products of reactions at higher temperatures may be due either to α→β rearrangements, or to direct methylation at the β-positions. Yields of methylphenanthrenes continue to increase up to 400°C. Lower yields of methylanthracenes and methylpyrenes at 400°C are attributed to demethylation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)71-80
Number of pages10
JournalOrganic Geochemistry
Volume23
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1995

Keywords

  • alkylaromatics
  • aromatic hydrocarbons
  • artificial maturation
  • methylanthracenes
  • methylation
  • methylphenanthrenes
  • methylpyrenes
  • pyrolysis

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