Steam gasification of a model coke was conducted under various experim
ental conditions using a specially designed thermogravimetric analyser
. The reactivity of a heat-treated German hard-coal char was determine
d in the range 973-1173 K. The char was also loaded with different amo
unts of sodium lignosulfonate by an incipient wetting technique, and t
he reactivity was measured under identical conditions. The sodium lign
osulfonate enhanced the gasification rate considerably. The reactivity
was even higher than that of char samples loaded with corresponding a
mounts of sodium carbonate. Sodium lignosulfonate is a more efficient
catalyst in the range 973-1023 K, and this can be attributed to its be
tter dispersion throughout the carbon matrix. Its higher efficiency co
upled with its low cost qualifies sodium lignosulfonate as a highly su
itable catalyst for any low-temperature allothermal gasification proce
ss.