# Influence of Coal Petrology Characteristics on the Organic Matter Adsorption Properties: A Molecular Simulation Perspective

## TL;DR

This paper uses molecular simulations to explore how different coal components affect the adsorption of organic molecules, revealing insights into energy and environmental systems.

## Contribution

The study provides molecular-scale insights into adsorption mechanisms of organic molecules on coal macerals using simulations.

## Key findings

- Toluene shows stable adsorption on inertinite surfaces due to van der Waals and aromatic stacking effects.
- FUR forms longer-lived hydrogen bonds with vitrinite, leading to stronger surface retention.
- Adsorption dynamics vary significantly between inertinite and vitrinite surfaces for different molecules.

## Abstract

The interaction between small organic molecules and coal macerals plays a critical role in regulating fluid retention and transport in coal-related energy and environmental systems. However, the microscopic mechanisms governing adsorption selectivity and interfacial dynamics on different maceral surfaces remain insufficiently understood. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the adsorption and desorption behaviors of toluene (TOL) and tetrahydrofuran-2-ol (FUR) on inertinite (INE) and vitrinite (VIT) surfaces at the molecular level. Time-dependent variations in adsorption number, residence time, molecular mobility, interaction energies, and hydrogen-bond characteristics were systematically analyzed. The results reveal strong maceral- and molecule-dependent adsorption preferences. TOL exhibits the most stable adsorption on the INE surface, characterized by rapid surface accumulation, minimal desorption, and a long residence time of 0.43547 ns, which is mainly driven by strong van der Waals interactions and aromatic stacking effects. In contrast, TOL adsorption on VIT is highly dynamic, with frequent desorption events and a markedly reduced residence time of 0.1077 ns. FUR shows relatively weaker and more reversible adsorption on INE, accompanied by enhanced molecular mobility and a shorter residence time of 0.31354 ns. Notably, FUR demonstrates stronger surface retention on VIT, with an extended residence time of 0.34439 ns, which can be attributed to increased electrostatic contributions and intermittent hydrogen bonding. Hydrogen-bond analysis indicates that FUR forms longer-lived hydrogen bonds with VIT (22.05 ps) than with INE (17.86 ps), providing additional stabilization at the interface. These findings elucidate the distinct adsorption mechanisms of aromatic and polar molecules on heterogeneous coal macerals and offer molecular-scale insights into organic matter–coal interfacial processes relevant to energy extraction and subsurface transport.