ABSTRAK Sebagian besar sumber daya batubara Indonesia adalah batubara peringkat rendah. Batubara ini dapat ditingkatkan nilai kalornya dengan melakukan proses pengeringan (upgrading). Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mengetahui perubahan komposisi sub-maseral dan reflektan vitrinit setelah proses pengeringan. Penelitian upgrading ini dilakukan menggunakan dua metode, yaitu metode hidrotermal dan oksidasi terhadap percontoh batubara Muara Wahau. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan persentase grup maseral eksinit berkurang dan grup maseral vitrinit bertambah setelah proses pengeringan. Dalam grup maseral vitrinit, akibat proses pemanasan desmokolinit lebih stabil dibandingkan dengan maseral lainnya. Pada suhu pengeringan yang tinggi (>150 o C), persentase inertinit lebih tinggi pada kondisi atmosfer teroksidasi dibandingkan persentase inertinit hasil proses hidrotermal. Dalam grup maseral inertinit, sklerotinit lebih stabil oleh proses pemanasan dibandingkan maseral lainnya. Nilai rata-rata reflektan vitrinit meningkat pada proses pengeringan hidrotermal dan konstan setelah proses oksidasi. Perubahan struktur molekul batubara antara lain putusnya ikatan CC pada senyawa alifatik dan terbentuknya senyawa aromatik terkondensasi diperkirakan sebagai penyebab terjadinya perubahan komposisi maseral dan perubahan nilai rata-rata refelektan vitrinit. Kata kunci: proses pengeringan, maseral, hidrotermal, reflektan vitrinit ABSTRACT Most of Indonesia's coal resources are low rank coals. The heating value of the coal could be increased through drying/upgrading process. The objective of this study is to determine the changes in sub-macerals composition and the average value of vitrinite reflectance after the upgrading process. This research was conducted using two upgrading methods, namely hydrothermal and oxidation towards Muara Wahau coal sampels. The results show that percentage of exinite maceral group decreases and vitrinite maceral group increases after upgrading. Among the vitrinite group maceral, desmocolinite is the most stable on heating. At temperature of above 150 o C, inertinite percentage is higher on upgrading under oxidation compared to that under hydrothermal conditions. Among inertinite maceral group, sclerotinite is the most stable on heating. The average value of vitrinite reflectance increased after hydrothermal and constant after oxidation process. Changes in the molecular structure of coal, among others breaking the CC bond in aliphatic compounds and the formation of condensed aromatic compounds, are expected to cause the alteration of maceral and changes in average value of vitrinite reflectance.
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