THE EFFECT OF FE CATALYST ON THE RELEASE OF NO DURING THE COMBUSTION OF ANISOTROPIC AND ISOTROPIC CARBONS

The release of nitrogen oxides during the combustion of coal chars is a major environmental problem. In this study, the effect of iron catal ysts on the release of NO during the combustion of a suite of carbons was investigated using a thermogravimetric analyser-mass spectrometer. The anisotropic carbons were prepared from acenaphthylene while the i sotropic carbons were prepared from polyvinylidene chloride and a phen olic resin. Nitrogen was incorporated in the carbon structure by treat ment with ammonia. A range of catalyst impregnation and sample treatme nt procedures were used and the temperature programmed combustion char acteristics of the resulting carbon samples were studied. The results were compared with the corresponding combustion characteristics of the pure carbons. Distinct differences were observed in the gas evolution profiles during temperature programmed combustion for the pure carbon s, and the various methods of catalyst preparation and dispersion. The results are discussed in terms of the structure of the carbons, incor poration of nitrogen into the carbon structure by ammonia treatment an d the catalyst impregnation methods. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd