Geochemical study on nitrogen isotope composition, speciation distribution, and influencing factors of vitrinite-rich coal seams during the Late Carboniferous
Abstract This study focuses on Coals 8 and 9 of the Late Carboniferous Taiyuan Formation in the eastern part of the north China Craton Basin. Through comprehensive industrial analysis, XPS, and nitrogen isotope techniques applied to 16 collected coal samples, the distribution of nitrogen in coal and...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03810-1 |
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| author | Dun Wu Liu Zhao Bo Li Nyasha Ndhlovu Kataza |
| author_facet | Dun Wu Liu Zhao Bo Li Nyasha Ndhlovu Kataza |
| author_sort | Dun Wu |
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| description | Abstract This study focuses on Coals 8 and 9 of the Late Carboniferous Taiyuan Formation in the eastern part of the north China Craton Basin. Through comprehensive industrial analysis, XPS, and nitrogen isotope techniques applied to 16 collected coal samples, the distribution of nitrogen in coal and the differentiation mechanism of δ 15N values were revealed. The results indicate that most coal samples exhibit high ash content, high volatile matter, and ultra-low moisture. Nitrogen exists in an organic state, with N-5 dominating and N-6 being secondary. The δ 15N values range from 0.72 to 3.15‰ for Coal 8 and − 1.90 ~ − 0.38‰ for Coal 9, deviating from China’s typical range, with positive and negative differences between Coal 8 and 9. These isotopic differences are influenced by factors such as depositional environments and diagenesis. δ 15N shows a negative correlation with total nitrogen content and a close association with macerals (negative correlation with vitrinite and positive correlation with inertinite). The deep-water reducing environment in the east and the shallow marine environment at the southern margin play regulatory roles in nitrogen isotope fractionation. This study provides crucial geochemical evidence for the reconstruction of ancient depositional environments and the nitrogen cycling mechanisms during coalification processes. |
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| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-b01cfa7a777f4fe0b21b4796d2f59ca62025-08-20T02:00:07ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-03810-1Geochemical study on nitrogen isotope composition, speciation distribution, and influencing factors of vitrinite-rich coal seams during the Late CarboniferousDun Wu0Liu Zhao1Bo Li2Nyasha Ndhlovu Kataza3Anhui Province Intelligent Underground Exploration and Environmental Geotechnical Engineering Research Center, College of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu UniversityAnhui Province Intelligent Underground Exploration and Environmental Geotechnical Engineering Research Center, College of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu UniversityAnhui Province Intelligent Underground Exploration and Environmental Geotechnical Engineering Research Center, College of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu UniversityAnhui Province Intelligent Underground Exploration and Environmental Geotechnical Engineering Research Center, College of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu UniversityAbstract This study focuses on Coals 8 and 9 of the Late Carboniferous Taiyuan Formation in the eastern part of the north China Craton Basin. Through comprehensive industrial analysis, XPS, and nitrogen isotope techniques applied to 16 collected coal samples, the distribution of nitrogen in coal and the differentiation mechanism of δ 15N values were revealed. The results indicate that most coal samples exhibit high ash content, high volatile matter, and ultra-low moisture. Nitrogen exists in an organic state, with N-5 dominating and N-6 being secondary. The δ 15N values range from 0.72 to 3.15‰ for Coal 8 and − 1.90 ~ − 0.38‰ for Coal 9, deviating from China’s typical range, with positive and negative differences between Coal 8 and 9. These isotopic differences are influenced by factors such as depositional environments and diagenesis. δ 15N shows a negative correlation with total nitrogen content and a close association with macerals (negative correlation with vitrinite and positive correlation with inertinite). The deep-water reducing environment in the east and the shallow marine environment at the southern margin play regulatory roles in nitrogen isotope fractionation. This study provides crucial geochemical evidence for the reconstruction of ancient depositional environments and the nitrogen cycling mechanisms during coalification processes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03810-1X-ray photoelectron spectroscopyElemental analysesNitrogen isotope analysesNitrogen form distribution |
| spellingShingle | Dun Wu Liu Zhao Bo Li Nyasha Ndhlovu Kataza Geochemical study on nitrogen isotope composition, speciation distribution, and influencing factors of vitrinite-rich coal seams during the Late Carboniferous Scientific Reports X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy Elemental analyses Nitrogen isotope analyses Nitrogen form distribution |
| title | Geochemical study on nitrogen isotope composition, speciation distribution, and influencing factors of vitrinite-rich coal seams during the Late Carboniferous |
| title_full | Geochemical study on nitrogen isotope composition, speciation distribution, and influencing factors of vitrinite-rich coal seams during the Late Carboniferous |
| title_fullStr | Geochemical study on nitrogen isotope composition, speciation distribution, and influencing factors of vitrinite-rich coal seams during the Late Carboniferous |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geochemical study on nitrogen isotope composition, speciation distribution, and influencing factors of vitrinite-rich coal seams during the Late Carboniferous |
| title_short | Geochemical study on nitrogen isotope composition, speciation distribution, and influencing factors of vitrinite-rich coal seams during the Late Carboniferous |
| title_sort | geochemical study on nitrogen isotope composition speciation distribution and influencing factors of vitrinite rich coal seams during the late carboniferous |
| topic | X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy Elemental analyses Nitrogen isotope analyses Nitrogen form distribution |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03810-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dunwu geochemicalstudyonnitrogenisotopecompositionspeciationdistributionandinfluencingfactorsofvitriniterichcoalseamsduringthelatecarboniferous AT liuzhao geochemicalstudyonnitrogenisotopecompositionspeciationdistributionandinfluencingfactorsofvitriniterichcoalseamsduringthelatecarboniferous AT boli geochemicalstudyonnitrogenisotopecompositionspeciationdistributionandinfluencingfactorsofvitriniterichcoalseamsduringthelatecarboniferous AT nyashandhlovukataza geochemicalstudyonnitrogenisotopecompositionspeciationdistributionandinfluencingfactorsofvitriniterichcoalseamsduringthelatecarboniferous |