Identification of Primary CO in Coal Seam Based on Oxygen Isotope Method

ABSTRACT

Analysis on the source of CO is very important for prevention of coal spontaneous combustion. In this article, a method of identifying primary CO in coal seams based on an oxygen isotope method is proposed through research. Tests on the oxygen isotopes (δ¹⁸O) of CO were generated in coal oxidization reaction and coal pyrolysis reaction. It is found that δ¹⁸O of CO will reduce with rising temperature in both reactions, with δ¹⁸O of CO being 15–20‰ in air atmosphere and that being 25–28‰ in argon atmosphere in the temperature range of 130–220°C, confirming that the sources of oxygen atoms of CO vary with different atmospheric conditions. Through collecting and testing a number of gas samples from the coal seam and roof in the coal mine, their δ¹⁸O of CO is found to be 35.2–37.3‰. The result would improve the prevention of coal spontaneous combustion.

KEYWORDS:

• Coal oxidization reaction
• Coal pyrolysis reaction
• Oxygen isotope
• Primary CO

Funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51304189 and U1361213), a project funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD), and the State Scholarship Fund of China Scholarship Council (Grant no. 201606425011) for a visiting scholar to pursue study in Australia.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51304189 and U1361213), a project funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD), and the State Scholarship Fund of China Scholarship Council (Grant no. 201606425011) for a visiting scholar to pursue study in Australia.