Siberian Federal University

Review of own and literature data, considering coal and products of coal reactions with different chemicals as supramolecular compounds of coal (SMC) was performed. Considered approaches to coal processing into porous carbon materials (PCM) include two main stages – the transformation of initial or modified coal into SMC by means of intercalation with alkali metals hydroxides and the following thermochemical conversion into PCM. Analysis of literature data showed that the new methods of coal conversion into PCM are based on the following options: 1) formation of SMC with KOH (or NaOH) and following thermolysis in an inert atmosphere at ≤ 900 °C; 2) chemical modification of coal and following carbonization and physical activation by CO2 or steam at ≤ 1000 °C; 3) coal intercalation by acids-oxidizers (H3NO3, etc.) and following treatment at conditions of heat stroke. Mechanism of SMC formation at treatments of coals with different degree of metamorphism by HNO3-Ac2O mixture was discussed. The ability of coal to form SMC depends on the degree of coal metamorphism and the maximum ability have the coals with Cdaf = 87–90 %. Supramolecular compounds of coal with KOH transform into high porosity carbon materials after thermal treatment at 800 °C