PYROLYSIS OF AROMATIC COMPOUNDS AS A GUIDE TO SYNTHETIC REACTIONS IN SEDIMENTS

Abstract

The syntheses of methylaromatics by the reactions of phenanthrene, anthracene and pyrene with coals and CH4 at 220°C to 400°C is demonstrated. At temperatures not exceeding 350°C the experimental conditions may be thermally equated, in terms of R0 values, to those approximating the oil window. Therefore, the high degree of methylation achieved, the insensitivity of the methylation process to reaction conditions and the systematic and theoretically predictable increases with temperature in the ratio of the ß/α substituted methyl isomers of the parent aromatic hydrocarbon, provide support for significant geosynthetic processes in sediments. The high concentration of n-alkanes generated from the coal may play a crucial role in reactions.