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The chemistry of coal
Fuel Processing Technology, 17 (1988) 311-312 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam -- Printed in The Netherlands
311
Book Reviews The Chemistry of Coal, by N. Berkowitz, Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1986, I S B N 0-444-42509-8, xiv + 514 pages, Dfl. 275.00 (approx. US$ 150.00) The author has written a very useful monograph on coal chemistry. The book starts with a brief historical survey describing key experiments. Subsequently, the "diversity of coal" is dealt with. In fact, part of the message of the book to new-comers in the field is that they should realise that coal is intrinsically heterogeneous and that coals, due to the fact that coal is formed by a variety of processes, vary greatly. A critical discussion of some methods that pose interpretive problems, e.g. molecular weight distributions, concludes part I. Part II starts with a detailed review on physical properties that results in the well-known rank-dependent plots. Included are porosity, specific area and thermal expansion. Also discussed are the implications from elemental analysis and functional group determinations. Part II focusses on fundamentals of reactivity. Nitration, halogenation, and oxidation reactions at electron-rich centres are discussed in a separate chapter. After a chapter on acid-base reactions the author gives a survey on coal pyrolysis. The emphasis on chemical fundamentals certainly adds to the usefulness of the book. The subject of the next chapter is solvent extraction. It is shown that the influence of the temperature, which constitutes an essential process parameter, can be well understood from basic chemistry. Part III reviews chemical and also some related chemical engineering aspects of the major coal utilization processes, viz. combustion, carbonization, gasification and liquefaction. Also environmental aspects are briefly dealt with. The book ends with a postscript on the "Chemical Structure of Coal". This chapter is very interesting, sometimes slightly provocative, and not everyone wilt agree with it. It can be said that the author has written a very useful book. The historical surveys are interesting and coal chemistry is treated in a very useful way. Every chapter ends with lists of the most important references. A minor point of criticism is that the author is slightly biased towards U.S.A. and Canada in his choices of literature. Also very useful for researchers in the field are the many tables in the book. In summary, the book is a "must" both for in-spe coal scientists and for chemical engineers, active in coal utilization. J.A. MOULIJN University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
311
Book Reviews The Chemistry of Coal, by N. Berkowitz, Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1986, I S B N 0-444-42509-8, xiv + 514 pages, Dfl. 275.00 (approx. US$ 150.00) The author has written a very useful monograph on coal chemistry. The book starts with a brief historical survey describing key experiments. Subsequently, the "diversity of coal" is dealt with. In fact, part of the message of the book to new-comers in the field is that they should realise that coal is intrinsically heterogeneous and that coals, due to the fact that coal is formed by a variety of processes, vary greatly. A critical discussion of some methods that pose interpretive problems, e.g. molecular weight distributions, concludes part I. Part II starts with a detailed review on physical properties that results in the well-known rank-dependent plots. Included are porosity, specific area and thermal expansion. Also discussed are the implications from elemental analysis and functional group determinations. Part II focusses on fundamentals of reactivity. Nitration, halogenation, and oxidation reactions at electron-rich centres are discussed in a separate chapter. After a chapter on acid-base reactions the author gives a survey on coal pyrolysis. The emphasis on chemical fundamentals certainly adds to the usefulness of the book. The subject of the next chapter is solvent extraction. It is shown that the influence of the temperature, which constitutes an essential process parameter, can be well understood from basic chemistry. Part III reviews chemical and also some related chemical engineering aspects of the major coal utilization processes, viz. combustion, carbonization, gasification and liquefaction. Also environmental aspects are briefly dealt with. The book ends with a postscript on the "Chemical Structure of Coal". This chapter is very interesting, sometimes slightly provocative, and not everyone wilt agree with it. It can be said that the author has written a very useful book. The historical surveys are interesting and coal chemistry is treated in a very useful way. Every chapter ends with lists of the most important references. A minor point of criticism is that the author is slightly biased towards U.S.A. and Canada in his choices of literature. Also very useful for researchers in the field are the many tables in the book. In summary, the book is a "must" both for in-spe coal scientists and for chemical engineers, active in coal utilization. J.A. MOULIJN University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands