Investigation on the co-combustion mechanism of coal and biomass on a fixed-bed reactor with advanced mass spectrometry

Abstract This study aims to investigate the co-combustion mechanism of coal and corn residue on a fixed-bed reactor at low temperature, the decomposition characteristics were studied by advanced vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry (PI−TOFMS). The mass spectra and evolution profiles of combustion products (from 300 to 800 °C) were measured. As reaction temperature increased, the relative ion intensities of typical combustion products were investigated, and the difference with previous pyrolysis study was also discussed. The results reveal that cellulose and lignin in corn residue is faster to react than hemicellulose. Coal has an influence on the lignin rather than cellulose and hemicellulose of corn residue in blend. Coal has no effect on the production of furfuryl alcohol obtained from coal-corn residue blend. The current study on the co-combustion mechanism is beneficial to optimize the product distribution and improve combustion efficiency.