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Nano- to micro-pore characterization by synchrotron radiation SAXS and nano-CT for bituminous coals

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Abstract

Considering the complementarity of synchrotron radiation SAXS and nano-CT in the pore structure detection range, synchrotron radiation SAXS and nano-CT methods were combined to characterize the nano- to micropore structure of two bituminous coal samples. In mesopores, the pore size distribution curves exhibit unimodal distribution and the average pore diameters are similar due to the affinity of metamorphic grades of the two samples. In macropores, the sample with higher mineral matter content, especially clay mineral content, has a much higher number of pores. The fractal dimensions representing the pore surface irregularity and the pore structure heterogeneity were also characterized by synchrotron radiation SAXS and nano-CT. The fractal dimensions estimated by both methods for different pore sizes show consistency and the sample with smaller average pore diameters has a more complex pore structure within the full tested range.

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Acknowledgements

The research is financially sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. U1910206, 51861145403, 51874312, 52004293), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2018M641526), Yue Qi Distinguished Scholar Project of China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Fund of China Scholarship Council and the Open Project Program of Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Science and Engineering (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education (No. DESE 202004). Zhihong Li, Guang Mo and Wanxia Huang of Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (BSRF) are thanked for providing the SAXS and Nano-CT experimental facilities and their suggestions in conducting experiments and data processing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Key Laboratory for Precise Mining of Intergrown Energy and Resources, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China

    Yixin Zhao, Nima Noraei Danesh, Tong Liu & Yirui Gao

  2. School of Energy and Mining Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China

    Yixin Zhao, Chujian Han, Nima Noraei Danesh, Tong Liu & Yirui Gao

  3. School of Civil and Resource Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Yingfeng Sun

  4. Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Science and Engineering (Ministry of Education), Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China

    Yingfeng Sun

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  1. Yixin Zhao
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  2. Chujian Han
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  5. Tong Liu
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Correspondence to Yixin Zhao.

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Zhao, Y., Han, C., Sun, Y. et al. Nano- to micro-pore characterization by synchrotron radiation SAXS and nano-CT for bituminous coals. Front. Earth Sci. 15, 189–201 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-021-0889-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-021-0889-6

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