A study of on-line analysis of chlorine during coal combustion

The behavior of chlorine during the combustion of coal was studied using TG-FTIR and TG-MS systems. Parameters of the coal samples studied included variations in chlorine content, rank, and mesh size. The identification of evolved gases at different temperatures indicated three mechanisms of HCl release. The first evolution of HCl was due to thermal effects, and corresponds to the release of HCl absorbed on pore walls of the coal. The second evolution of HCl is a function of coal rank, and represents a more tightly bound chlorine associated with the hydrated coal matrix. The third evolution of HCl is a result of inorganic chlorides in the coal.