Distribution and Environment Significance of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Coal Pyrolysis

The organic pollutants generated by the coal thermal processing, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are highly carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic, and have thus attracted widespread public attention. In this study, The formation and fate of PAHs during the coal pyrolysis under rapid heating conditions have been discussed. Experiments were performed using the PY-GC-MS (pyrolyzer-gas chromatography-mass spectrometer). PAHs were produced in the CDS 5250 by rapid coal pyrolysis at 10°C/ms to 1200°C. The results showed that the PAHs in the coal pyrolysis were higher than those in raw coals, and were dominated by the low-ring(2,3-ring). The contents of high-ring PAHs were relatively low. The different-rings PAHs increased initially and then decreased with the rise of carbon content in coals. The contents and proportion of 4-6 ring PAHs from bituminous coals pyrolysis were relatively high, and these higher-ring PAHs are just the most harmful pollutions to human health and the environment.