The effect of Fe catalyst on the release of NO during the combustion of anisotropic and isotropic carbons Original Research Article

The release of nitrogen oxides during the combustion of coal chars is a major environmental problem. In this study, the effect of iron catalysts on the release of NO during the combustion of a suite of carbons was investigated using a thermogravimetric analyser-mass spectrometer. The anisotropic carbons were prepared from acenaphthylene while the isotropic carbons were prepared from polyvinylidene chloride and a phenolic resin. Nitrogen was incorporated in the carbon structure by treatment with ammonia. A range of catalyst impregnation and sample treatment procedures were used and the temperature programmed combustion characteristics of the resulting carbon samples were studied. The results were compared with the corresponding combustion characteristics of the pure carbons. Distinct differences were observed in the gas evolution profiles during temperature programmed combustion for the pure carbons, and the various methods of catalyst preparation and dispersion. The results are discussed in terms of the structure of the carbons, incorporation of nitrogen into the carbon structure by ammonia treatment and the catalyst impregnation methods.