Identification of biomarkers in a bituminous coal treated with acid and an unconventional solvent

Abstract

This article describes saturated biomarkers (n-alkanes, hopanes and steranes) identified in the extracts obtained from a bituminous coal treated with acid and an unconventional solvent. Extracts of Venezuelan bituminous coals were obtained through chloroform (conventional solvent) and N,N-dimethylformamide-DMF-as high extractive solvent, with and without previous acid treatment, to evaluate the performance and distribution of characteristic biomarkers. The extraction yield with DMF reached 44% w/w, while with CHCl3, this value did not exceed 2% w/w. Previous demineralization with HCl increased the extraction yield without affecting the distribution of the biomarkers, except in the ratio of light hydrocarbons to the heavy ones. DMF, therefore, is proposed as the solvent of choice to obtain geochemical information on weathered carbons.