SAXS/WAXS Experiments on Oxidized Coals: Textural characterization by fractal analysis

We propose to carry out SAXS determinations for series of bituminous coals oxidized in air at temperatures of 473 and 543 K, as well for some chars and activated carbons obtained from them. SAXS techniques are powerful tools in order to obtain classical textural parameters as pore volume, pore size distribution or specific surface area. The fractal theory applied to textural studies is increasingly being used to assess structural properties of porous solids, complementing the findings provided by classical techniques as mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), helium pycnometry or gas adsorption. Fractal models have been developed to apply the fractal approach to the aforementioned techniques and also to SAXS experimental data. Additionally, SAXS may allow to detect closed porosity or pores not accessible to other textural analysis techniques.