Analysis of Formation Rates of Sulfur-Containing Gases during the Pyrolysis of Various Coals

Abstract

To clarify the relation between organic sulfur distribution in coal and the emission of sulfur-containing gases, six Japanese standard coals, three Argonne premium coals, and one Chinese coal were pyrolyzed using a thermogravimetric analyzer-mass spectrometer (TG-MS) and a Curie-point pyrolyzer. The changes in sulfur distributions in coal and chars were estimated by a modified controlled-atmosphere-programmed-temperature-oxidation (CAPTO) method. It was clarified that the aliphatic sulfur decomposed below 500 °C and that the aromatic sulfur decomposed at 400−700 °C, irrespective of coal type. The decomposition of thiophenic sulfur was strongly affected by coal type. Finally, the H2S formation rate and the decomposition rate of organic sulfur were analyzed using a new distributed activation energy model (DAEM).