TG/FTIR/MS study of organic compounds evolved during the co-firing of coaland refuse-derived fuels

Complementary thermal analytical techniques were used to analyze gaseous pr oducts evolved during the co-firing of coal with refuse derived, fuels. The combined thermogravimetric (TG)/Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)/mass spe ctrometry (MS) techniques were employed to study the reaction pathways for the formation of gaseous products during combustion, as well as identify mo lecular chlorine, HCl, CO, CO2, H2O and various organic compounds. The disc overy of molecular chlorine has led us to look for the possible formation o f chlorinated organic compounds in the combustion process. Chlorine and hyd rocarbon species are released in the same temperature range and in higher c oncentrations during fast heating rates compared to relatively slow ones. T hese results indicate that there may be more opportunities to form chlorina ted organic compounds during the co-firing of coals with refuse-derived fue ls (RDF) at the faster heating rates that may occur in a fluidized-bed comb ustor (FBC) system. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.