Steam gasification of coal char using alkali and alkaline-earth metal catalysts

Abstract

The catalytic effect of alkali and alkaline-earth metal salts or oxides on the gasification of Chinese Linnancang coal char was investigated at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 800 °C. The order of catalytic activity is K 2SO 4 or K 2CO 3 Na 2CO 3 KCl NaCl CaCl 2 or CaO. The effect of amount of catalysts added on catalytic activity was studied. The distribution of K 2CO 3 or CaO catalysts on the coal char surface for different methods of catalyst loading was examined by an electron microprobe analyser. The relation between the catalytic activity and distribution of catalysts were illustrated. The loading method of K 2CO 3 has little effect on its catalytic activity but that of CaO influences the activity significantly.