Changes in Surface Area, Pore Structure and Density during Formation of High-temperature Chars from Representative U.S. Coals

Abstract

Multiple techniques (CO2 and N2 adsorptions, NMR spin relaxation of adsorbed water, He pycnometry and Hg porosimetry) have been combined in a comprehensive study to determine changes in surface area (CO2 and nitrogen), density (solid, particle and bulk), and pore structure (pore size and volume distributions of micro-, meso- and macro-pores) in high-temperature char formation from rank representative U.S. coals of the ANL and PETC Banks (i.e. Beulah Zap, Dietz, Utah Blind Canyon, Pittsburgh No.8 and Pocahontas No.3). Chars were formed at high heating rates in a flat-frame burner (maximum temperature of 1473 K), a process representative of char formation in pulverized coal combustion. Most of the surface area of the coals was found in micropores with radii less than 1.5 nm, while 95% or more of the pore volume in the coals (85% of that in chars) was contained in mesopores less than 20 nm). During the high-temperature formation of char in a flame: (I) CO2 surface areas (involving mainly micropores, rpore < 1.5 nm) increase two- to three-fold, while N2 surface areas (involving mesopores. 1.5 nm < rpore < 20 nm) increase 20–200-fold; (2) solid densities increase about 25% due to graphitization, while particle densities decrease by about a factor of two due to large increases in particle porosity; (3) pore volumes increase 5–10-fold; and (4) total porosities increase three- to four-fold, most of this increase occurring in the macropore range. The larger surface areas and porosities of chars relative to coals may be explained by (i) the removal by pyrolysis of strongly adsorbed molecules or volatile hydrocarbons from micropores and small mesopores that would otherwise hinder access of CO2 and N2 molecules; (ii) the creation of new pores during the restructuring process involved in charification; and (iii) opening up by gasification with oxygen of new pores previously blocked to gas adsorption. The preparation conditions (e.g. atmosphere, heating rate and temperature) greatly affect the physical properties including the surface area, porosity and density of the resulting chars. The degree of carbon burnout is an important correlating factor affecting these properties.