Magnetic stimulation of chemical reactions in coal

Abstract

Purpose. To identify a mechanism in terms of which a signal of weak magnetic field is transformed into response of some components of nanostructure of a carbonaceous matter with further formation of chemical bonds. Methodology. Physical and mathematical modelling procedures of elementary chemical acts have been applied. Regularities of quantum mechanics and dynamics of chemical bonds were also used in addition to a magnetic isotope theory, a diffusion theory of recombination of radical pairs taking into consideration triplet-singlet transit, and nuclear-spin selectivity of chemical reactions. Findings. The physical mechanism of the magnetic scenario of interradial reactions is considered from the viewpoint of their energy stimulation through magnetic fields, i.e. the idea has been implemented according to which the number of radical pairs, able to be recombined into stable molecules, increases significantly if the weak magnetic field exercises certain influence. In addition to stimulation of interradial reactions, the magnetic field impact on organic coal mass-radicals results in stabilization of carbonaceous structures with regular atomic arrangement (being two-dimensional matrices, chains etc.) and their increase. Originality. A physical model of structural and phase changes in coal, depending upon the effect by external weak magnetic field, has been developed. It has been shown that the weak magnetic field signal, being incomparably smaller energetically to compare with the energy of thermal molecular motion, can initiate triplet-singlet transitions, i. e. transform radicals into reactive state. A mechanism has been proposed to form chemical bonds between movable radicals and non-complete bonds of atoms at the surfaces of solid phases of carbonaceous matter. Practical value. Implementation of the obtained results, concerning magnetic coal processing, may be connected with the development of a new procedure to avoid explosive conditions in coal seams. Progress in the field of magnetic processing should involve studies concerning calculation and selection of coal processing parameters (i.e. magnetic field density, frequency, energy, and a processing period) to control efficiently the chemical reactions in the carbonaceous matter. A substantiation degree of coal processing will influence greatly both efficiency of chemical processes and expediency of practical use of the results.