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Direct evidence of CO2 softening effects on coal using nanoindentation

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  • Zhang, Guanglei
  • Ranjith, P.G.
  • Lyu, Qiao

Abstract

Sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in deep coal seams has been identified as a promising technique to mitigate global warming with added benefit of enhancing coalbed methane recovery. Understanding coal structure and its reactivity with injected CO2 is important for CO2 sequestration in coal. Despite the long-standing hypothesis, there is no direct evidence of softening effects of CO2 on coal due to CO2-coal interactions. Here, we used optical microscopy and nanoindentation to study changes in microstructures and nanoscale mechanical properties of untreated and CO2-treated anthracite coal. Microscopic images indicated coal surface cracked after short-term treatment and then became highly wrinkled and distorted after long-term treatment. These changes reflect that CO2 dissolves in the macromolecular network and acts as a solvent allowing a rearrangement of the network. Nanoindentation directly confirmed the softening effects of CO2 on nanoscale mechanical properties, including Young's modulus, hardness, and fracture toughness. Interestingly, all these changes were reversible to some extent after removing CO2 from coal. These findings provide new evidence for clarifying the polymeric macromolecular structure of coal and directly demonstrated the softening effects of CO2 on the macromolecular structure.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Guanglei & Ranjith, P.G. & Lyu, Qiao, 2022. "Direct evidence of CO2 softening effects on coal using nanoindentation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:254:y:2022:i:pa:s0360544222011240
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.124221
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Perera, M.S.A. & Ranjith, P.G. & Viete, D.R., 2013. "Effects of gaseous and super-critical carbon dioxide saturation on the mechanical properties of bituminous coal from the Southern Sydney Basin," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 73-81.
    2. Geng, Weile & Huang, Gun & Guo, Shengli & Jiang, Changbao & Dong, Ziwen & Wang, Wensong, 2022. "Influence of long-term CH4 and CO2 treatment on the pore structure and mechanical strength characteristics of Baijiao coal," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
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    1. Wei Li & Weili Lin & Hongfu Liu & Xiaoxia Song & Zhenji Wei, 2023. "Influence of Supercritical CO 2 Fluid on CH 4 and CO 2 Diffusion in Vitrinite-Rich Coals and Inertinite-Rich Coals," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-15, February.

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