AN EVALUATION OF METHODS FOR ENHANCING THE CO2-REACTIVITY OF A CAKING BITUMINOUS COAL

An elevation of a variety of reactivity enhancement procedures has been carried out for one bituminous coal (Pittsburgh No. 8). The relative merits of each type of method have been addressed and the extent to which coal char reactivity could realistically be enhanced for gasification by carbon dioxide has been established. Investigations have revealed two main classes of pretreatment type. The first group, consisting of non-catalytic pretreatments such as preoxidation, solvent extraction and co-carbonization with inert materials produced only a moderate increase in char reactivity relative to the untreated parent coke. In contrast, however, the second group, consisting of catalyst pretreated chars, resulted in a large increase in char reactivity compared with that of the parent coke.