Polyene model of coal structure

Abstract

The development of the polyene model of coal structure at the Eastern Coal Chemistry Institute (now OAO VUKhIN) between 1975 and 2015 is surveyed. In terms of the polyene model, the vitrinites in coal are amorphous polymers whose monomer component contains cis polyene chains in helical form and trans polyene chains in flat zigzag structures, whose skeleton includes not only polyene systems but also methylene groups. The supermolecular structure of the vitrinites is determined by the molecular interactions between the monomers and includes highly ordered double helices, twin flat zigzag structures, and more complex structures, leading to the formation of globules and flat blocks.