Relation between functional forms of coal nitrogen and formation of nitrogen oxide (NOx) precursors during rapid pyrolysis

Abstract

The formation of NO x precursors during rapid pyrolysis was investigated for 20 coals covering wide ranks at temperatures of 853-1488 K to elucidate the influence of coal properties on NO x formation during coal combustion. It was found that the main compositions of volatile nitrogen are HCN, NH 3 , and N 2 under these experimental conditions. Their yields are strongly dependent on coal types and pyrolysis temperature. By analyzing functional forms of coal nitrogen in parent coals and chars after pyrolysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the relation between nitrogen functionality and formation of nitrogen-containing species has been further demonstrated. Three nitrogen functional forms of pyrrole type, pyridine type, and quaternary nitrogen are observed for all coals