Effect of Atmosphere on Evolution of Sulfur-Containing Gases during Coal Pyrolysis

The evolution rates of sulfur-containing gases were measured during temperature-programmed pyrolysis of coals in an atmospheric pressure, vertical micro-fixed-bed reactor. The results indicated the following, compared with the products evolved in N 2: carbon monoxide (CO) promotes the formation of carbonyl sulfide (COS); carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) inhibits the evolution of sulfur-containing gases at temperatures below 600 °C and exhibits effects similar to those of CO above this temperature; methane (CH 4 ) also inhibits the evolution of sulfur-containing gases at temperatures below 600 °C but promotes the formation of H 2 S at temperatures above 800 °C; and hydrogen gas (H 2 ) improves the formation of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) and inhibits the formation of other sulfur-containing gases.