The pores in coal are the primary storage sites of coalbed
methane
(CBM), and temperature is the critical factor affecting pore evolution
during the thermal evolution. This paper investigates the evolution
characteristics of different pores and the role of related molecular
structures through the artificially thermal evolution of coal. The
pore size distribution and morphology of unheated and heated coals
were detected by combining the fluid injection technology and image
analysis. The molecular structures of each sample are semi-quantitatively
analyzed by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
The results indicated that 300 °C is a turning point for the
evolutions of micropores and macropores. Their respective volume remains
steady approximately before 300 °C. Subsequently, the micropore
volume increases gradually, while the macropore volume soars suddenly
after 300 °C. Meanwhile, the mesopore volume constantly decreases
during the artificially thermal evolution. On the other hand, the
most mesopore morphology alters from the slit pore and wedge pore
to the bottle-neck pore and cylindrical pore, while the macropore
morphology alters from the wedge pore into the cylindrical pore and
bottle-neck pore. Furthermore, during the artificially thermal evolution,
the major factor affecting the evolution of micropore and macropore
is the loss of −CH2 side chains from their edges,
while the main factor affecting the mesopore evolution is the polycondensation
of −CH2 side chains and carbonyl/carboxyl at its
edge. These results could help understand the pore variation in CBM
reservoirs during coalification.