Effect of catalyst addition on gasification reactivity of HyperCoal and coal with steam at 775-700 °C

HyperCoal is a clean coal with ash content <0.05 wt%. HyperCoal was prepared from a bituminous coal by solvent extraction method with an extraction yield of 66.7%. Effect of K₂CO₃ loading and temperature on steam gasification rate of HyperCoal and parent raw coal was investigated. Experiments were carried out at 775 and 700 °C for both HyperCoal and coal with 0-25% catalyst loading. Gasification rates increased with increased catalyst loading and reached a value above which rates did not change with catalyst loading. The catalyst loadings were 6% for HyperCoal and 20% for coal. The difference is most likely due to the difference in ash content of HyperCoal and coal and not due to the effect of H₂ inhibition on the rate. In the presence of catalyst effect of temperature was only on gasification rate and total gas yield and gas composition were unaffected.