Abstract
The literature pertaining to the molecular characterization of organosulfur components of coal is surveyed. The review is accompanied by a detailed analysis of organic S compounds present in flash evaporates and pyrolysates of an array of coals, revealing that the structure of organosulfur constituents in coal is similar to that of organosulfur constituents present in bitumen and kerogen of sediments and crude oils. These coal constituents are generated in the early stages of diagenesis by reaction of hydrogen sulfide or polysulfides with functionalized precursors yielding organic mono- and polysulfide moieties and thiophenes.