Radiation-stimulated processes of destruction and polycondensation of coals

The regularities of destructive and polycondensation processes in lignites of the Soma coal fields, Turkey, were investigated by the methods of EPR, IR spectroscopy, derivatiography and chromatography. It was shown that on lignite irradiation by γ-rays the character of the processes changes, depending on the absorbed dose and temperature. At room temperature and doses up to 200 kGy irradiation leads to the accumulation of radiation defects, which stimulate destructive reactions. At higher doses, due to the recombination of radiation defects, these is radiation lacing of the organic mass of coals. On the conjugate action of heat and irradiation on coals, destruction process predominate. The mechanism of radiation effect upon coals is explained within the scope of self-associated multimer structure of coals. (author) 15 refs.; 5 figs