The introduction of supercritical CO2 (ScCO2) into deep coal seams can enhance coalbed methane recovery (CO2-ECBM) and achieve carbon sequestration, garnering significant attention from researchers globally. However, limited studies have been conducted on the interaction evolution between coal with varying metamorphic degrees and ScCO2, as well as the coal molecular structure's changes during adsorption from a microscopic perspective. In this study, the lignite coal from Xinjiang (XY), bituminous coal in Huaibei (HY), and anthracite coal in Zhaozhuang (ZY) with different metamorphic degrees were investigated using experimental and simulation approaches. The aim is to reveal the evolution of coal molecular structure and gas adsorption characteristics under the action of ScCO2. The findings are as follows:
(1) A range of characterization methods was employed to analyze the alterations in surface structure, microstructure, and aromatic fringes of coals with differing metamorphic levels. Macromolecular structure models is constructed, and the structural model of molecular formula from Xinjiang coal (XY) is C121H107NO39, Huaibei coal (HY) is C111H78N2O22S, and Zhaozhuang coal (ZY) is C116H66N2O14.
(2) The interaction between ScCO2, water, and coal involved numerous physical and chemical reactions, particularly in surface and microstructure. For low-rank coal (XY), the aromatic carbon ratio, microcrystalline size, and bridge carbon ratio increase, while these parameters decrease for medium and high-rank coals (HY and ZY). The stacking layer number for medium and low-rank coals (XY and HY) increases, as do the orderliness of aromatic stripes. Conversely, the stacking layer number for high-rank coal (ZY) reduces, and the order of aromatic stripes deteriorates. Among the extracted substances, cycloalkanes and n-alkanes constitute the largest proportions. The swelling of high-rank coal (ZY) disrupts the cross-linking bond of aromatic layers, weakens interlayer forces, and diminishes aromaticity effects. Naphthalene compounds are present in ZY extractions. Based on the evolution law, macromolecular structure models of coal are constructed and optimized after reacting with ScCO2. The structural model of molecular formulas for Xinjiang supercritical coal (XC), Huaibei supercritical coal (HC), and Zhaozhuang supercritical coal (ZC) are determined as C103H93NO32, C160H110N2O34S, and C130H66N2O16, respectively.
(3) The adsorption curves for the three coal samples are classified as type II curves, with all exhibiting H3 hysteresis loops and slit pore shapes. The hysteresis loop of XY is significantly larger than that of HY, indicating the presence of more open pores. An inflection point is observed in XC, suggesting a specific number of ink bottle pores. The micropore volume of XY and HY decrease, while the micropore volume of ZY increases.
(4) After reacting with ScCO2, the temperature sensitivity of coal with different metamorphic degrees varies, with low-rank coal exhibiting greater sensitivity. The CH4 adsorption capacity of the three coal samples decrease before and after reacting with ScCO2, with HC experiencing the largest decrease. Upon reacting with ScCO2, the adsorption of CH4 and CO2 by XY and XC demonstrate inverse changes. The adsorption heat of XY and HY increase alongside the growth of adsorption capacity, whereas ZY decreases with the rising adsorption capacity. After reacting with ScCO2, the adsorption heat of XC, HC, and ZC diminish as adsorption capacity increases. The model for CH4 adsorption on coal with varying metamorphic degrees is a combination of the Dubinin-Astahov-1 (D-A-1) and Langmuir-Freundlich (L-F) models. The CO2 adsorption model is the D-A-2 or D-A-3 model for micropore fitting, while the fitting model for medium and large pores is the 3-parameter BET (T-BET)-2 or T-BET-3 model.
(5) A molecular model of coal pore structure was constructed, and the effects of coal's reaction with ScCO2 on isolated and connected pores within the coal pore structure were analyzed. After reacting with ScCO2, some isolated pores became connected pores. The changes in the coordination number of isolated and connected pores in coal were analyzed using the ball-stick model. The impact of varying pressure, gas type, and water content on adsorption in isolated and connected pores was investigated. Microscopic pore structure alterations are integrated with macroscopic ones. The relationship between gas microscopic self-diffusion coefficient (Ds), correction diffusion coefficient (Dc), and macroscopic transport diffusion coefficient (Dt) was analyzed, with Ds < Dc < Dt. In conjunction with the radial distribution function (RDF), coal and gas adsorption primarily depends on the interaction between carbon and gas.
In this study, it can provide basic theoretical data for CO2-ECBM technology and long-term safe storage of CO2 in coal seams.