Gasification of different types of carbon in steam and carbon dioxide in the presence of γ-radiation

Abstract Studies have been made of the formation of H 2 and CO at temperatures between 20 and 500°C on reacting graphite, activated charcoal and semicoke with steam and carbon dioxide, respectively, in the presence of γ-radiation. The highest rates of H 2 and CO formation were observed on the gasification of semicoke. At 500°C, gas formation rates are W ( H 2 ) − W ( CO ) = 2.0 × 10 13 molec / cm 3 s for semicoke in steam and W ( CO ) = 1.37 × 10 13 molec / cm 3 s for semicoke in carbon dioxide. Investigation has been made of the temperature of semicoke production from lignite and also of the effect of preirradiation dose on the rate of CO formation in the semicoke/CO 2 system. An increase in the semicoke production temperature from 500 to 700°C reduced its reactivity with carbon dioxide by a factor of 1.4. Preirradiation of the semicoke with 200 kJ/kg decreases the reactivity by a factor of 2.8. A discussion is given of the mechanism of the effect of γ-radiation on the gasification processes of different carbons in steam and carbon dixoide.