Combustion Characteristics of the Original and Demineralized Afsin-Elbistan Lignite and Its Char

Abstract

Simultaneous thermal analysis and mass spectrometry were used to determine the combustion characteristics of the original and demineralized Afsin-Elbistan lignite and its char. The major gaseous products evolved were characterized. An integral method was applied for kinetic calculations. The demineralized lignite shows the highest overall reactivity for combustion. A pronounced decrease of the final combustion temperature and activation energy of combustion is observed for the demineralized case. The differences observed in SO₂ emissions of the original and demineralized lignite and char are primarily due to the adsorption and/or chemisorption of SO₂ by the calcium oxides of the mineral matrix.

Keywords:

• coal
• combustion
• kinetics
• mass spectrometry
• thermal analysis