Resolution enhancement of diffuse reflectance i.r. spectra of coals by Fourier self-deconvolution

Infrared spectra of many coal samples ranging from anthracites to lignites were measured by diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The technique of Fourier self-deconvolution was applied to reduce the widths of all bands in the spectra. Several bands absorbing between 3000 and 2800 cm−1 due to C-H stretching modes of alkyl groups in different environments couId be resolved. In the spectral region between 900 and 700 cm−1, aromatic C-H out-of-plane deformation modes due to monocyclic and polycyclic rings could be distinguished after deconvolution.