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Coal char gasification using alkali metal catalysts

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7359820· OSTI ID:7359820
In order to simplify the experimental procedure and the interpretation of results, coal char rather than coal was used to study steam gasification of a Wyoming sub-bituminous coal with alkali metal salts as catalysts. Coal/catalyst contacting was accomplished by aqueous impregnation of the coal with catalyst. Gasification rates and gas production rates were measured as a function of catalyst type, catalyst loading, and reactor temperature. Steam partial pressure was maintained constant at one half of an atmosphere. Temperature was varied from 600 to 900/sup 0/C. Initial catalyst screening studies indicated that K/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ and KOH gave identical results and that both were superior to alkali chlorides in enhancing gasification rates. K/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ was then used exclusively in all subsequent studies. The following major conclusions can be drawn: Enhancement in the gasification rate results from increased catalyst loading and decreased thermal aging; activation energies decrease with increasing catalyst loading and have values of 39.1, 44.8, and 49.1 Kcal/mole for 10, 5, and 0 percent loadings of potassium, respectively; increasing temperature causes carbon monoxide to be formed in preference to carbon dioxide and hydrogen, and enhances the rate of methane production; and increasing catalyst loading causes carbon monoxide to be formed in preference to carbon dioxide and hydrogen, but diminishes the rate of methane production.
Research Organization:
California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
7359820
Report Number(s):
LBL-4498
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English