Thermodynamic study of the behaviour of minor coal elements and their affinities to sulphur during coal combustion

The behaviours of ten minor coal elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Si and Ti) during coal combustion in the temperature range 400–2000 K, under both oxidising and reducing conditions, have been studied in detail by a thermodynamic equilibrium analysis.

The partitioning of these elements is calculated both in single minor element–coal–chlorine systems and in minor elements co-existing systems. Their vaporisation tendency is found in the order: (Si, Al)<(Fe, Ti)<(Ca, Mn)<(K, Na, P, Mg). Si, Ti, Al and P are present mostly as oxides and K and Na as chlorides, whatever the combustion conditions. Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mn and Na sulphates are dominant at low temperatures under oxidising conditions, whereas under reducing conditions most of them are sulphides and/or chlorides. Moreover, the interactions between these elements affect their major speciation: some species containing two elements among those studied are dominant in the minor elements co-existing systems. The affinities of minor coal elements to sulphur have been studied versus both temperature (400 or 800 K) and sulphur content (0.0062–6.20 wt.% in the coal), in order to find out their influence on the flue gas desulfurization. Two coal samples with different ash contents were considered, and it was found that the ash composition affects greatly the minor elements partitioning.