Migration and transformation of sodium during staged coal combustion of Zhundong coal and influence of carbon coating

Staged coal combustion is a promising solution to the alkali-induced slagging issue. It innovatively separates coal pyrolysis and char combustion into different reactors. This study investigated migration and transformation of sodium during staged coal combustion of two Zhundong coals in a fixed-bed apparatus. Behavior of sodium during coal pyrolysis and char combustion are integrated. Carbon coating on sodium species was experimentally confirmed for the first time by low-temperature oxygen-plasma ashing and ultrafine grinding. Up to 62 wt% of initial water-soluble Na in ZJ coal and 51 wt% in WCW coal were coated with the carbon matrix during coal pyrolysis. Coated water-soluble Na appeared from 500 degrees C and its amount reached a peak value at around 700 degrees C, followed by decrease over 700-1000 degrees C. Thermoplastic behavior of coal during pyrolysis is expected to play an important role in the formation of coating which hinders pretreatment of sodium. During char combustion, all coated water-soluble sodium species were exposed and participated in the subsequent release. Part of them can also react with minerals to generate insoluble and HCl-soluble sodium species. Char combustion is the main period of the sodium release while coal pyrolysis is the principal period of the generation of HCl-soluble Na.