PYROLYSIS OF SARAWAK COALS-MERIT PILA AND MUKAH BALINGIAN

Abstract

Thermogravimetry (TG) analysis has been applied for the pyrolysis of two low rank Sarawak coals Merit Pila (MP) and Mukah Balingian (MB). The coal samples, about 10 mg were investigated within the temperature range 300-900C min , under nitrogen atmosphere for the pyrolysis study. Differential thermogravimetric (DTG) data were analysed using an Arrhenius type reaction model assuming a first-order reaction. Kinetic parameters, which are reactivity value, Rr and activation energy, Eo for MP and MB coals were determined at different heating rates. The Rr values for MP were 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06 mg mg-1 min-1 and for MB coal were 0.02, 0.03 and 0.05 mg mg-1 min-1. While the Ea for MP coal were 5.49, 5.52 and 5.72 kJ mol-1 anf for MB coal were 4.96, 5.48 and 5.78 kJ mol-1. The kinetic parameters for MP and MB coals had shown almost similar pattern, and the Rr and Ea were increasing as the heating rates increased.