Reactivity of Spanish coal chars in dry air: Effect of the addition of potassium carbonate and acetate

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) 1987-02, Vol.66 (2), p.237-241
• Main Authors: Rivera-Utrilla, José, López-Peinado, Antonio, Moreno-Castilla, Carlos, López-Gonzalez, Juan D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; charcoal; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel processing. Carbochemistry and petrochemistry; Fuels; potassium; reactivity; Solid fuel processing (coal, coke, brown coal, peat, wood, etc.)
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/0016-2361(87)90248-1

Several Spanish chars, ranging from lignite to anthracite, were studied in their gasification with dry air. Their behaviour was essentially related to the rank of the parent coal, and mineral matter content. Potassium was added to the demineralized char both as carbonate and acetate. Reactivity of the supported catalysts thus obtained was increased when K 2CO 3 was the precursor salt. However, this increase was lower, and in some cases there was no increase, when potassium acetate was used. The behaviour found for the two potassium salts, was due to a greater reduction in the surface area of the char when potassium acetate was the precursor salt, which brought about a lower accessibility of the reactant gas to the active surface centres. The effect of K was inhibited in a char because of the high silica content of its ashes.