Catalytic upgrading of coal volatiles with Fe2O3 and hematite by TG-FTIR and Py-GC/MS

Pyrolysis plays a critical role in clean coal technology and energy conversion and is also conducive to the early peaking of carbon dioxide emissions. Light tar production from traditional coal pyrolysis using various iron-based catalysts for chemicals and fuel oil has gained attention recently. In this study, waste hematite was initially used for catalytic upgrading of rapid coal pyrolysis. Subsequently, thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (TG-FTIR) and pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) were utilized to compare the performances, kinetic parameters, and volatile composition of coal pyrolysis with Fe2O3 and hematite. The results showed that the maximum weight loss rate of coal pyrolysis increased by 1.55 %/min and 0.32 %/min with the addition of Fe2O3 and hematite, respectively, indicating that the pyrolysis reaction became more rapid and intense with iron-based catalysts. Both Kissinger Akahira Sunose (KAS) and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) methods revealed that the catalysts reduced the apparent activation energy of coal pyrolysis. Online FTIR showed the emission temperature and content of coal volatiles, suggesting iron-based catalysts were conducive to the cracking of oxygen-containing functional groups and the directional cracking of groups to CO. Py-GC/MS illustrated the presence of Fe2O3 and hematite could reduce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and oxygenates. In addition, a mechanism for rapid coal pyrolysis with iron-based catalysts was proposed to provide fundamental information for the transformation of aliphatic hydrocarbons, oxygenates, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It is believed that iron-based catalysts have great potential for future research on upgrading coal volatiles and tar.