Application of organic matter microscopy in environmental studies

Magdalena Misz-Kennan

The tools of organic petrology are used for investigation of coal and rocks where organic matter occurs in dispersed form. They are also applied for identification and quantification of various organic and mineral forms occurring in solid products from coal conversion processes like combustion, pyrolysis, liquefaction. These tools allow to identify particles found in e.g., soil, coal wastes, river deposits and draw conclusions on their origin.

During the course students will be presented the concept of macerals and their division. They will learn about all three maceral groups (huminite/vitrinite, liptinite, inertinite), their origin, changes with rank, properties and ways of behaviour during technological processes. Than students will learn about preparation of samples for petrographic analyses the methods of these analyses including: identification of organic (and inorganic) components in reflected white light and fluorescence, quantitative analyses using point counter, and random, maximum and minimum reflectance measurements. Brief introduction to technological processes, oxidation and self-heating will be given and classifications of organic particles changed in these processes will be presented.