Department of Chemistry
Master of Science
The purpose of this study is to understand the behavior of chlorine and the emission of organic compounds during combustion in an atmospheric fluidized bed combustion (AFBC) system. Inefficient, uncontrolled use of coal gives rise to organic emissions which can be detrimental to health. The chlorine in coal may cause corrosion problems during utilization, if its concentration is high enough. The method for collection of the emissions of organic compounds involved the use of a Tenax resin as an absorbent for the organic compounds as they were emitted from the combustor. A combined gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique was used for analysis. The behavior of chlorine was studied by collection of samples of chloride emissions from combustion flue gas in a buffer solution and analysis by ion chromatography (IC). Studies of the effects of different bed temperatures on the amount of chloride emissions were performed while burning a low chlorine coal in a laboratory scale AFBC unit. Also, studies of the behavior of chlorine in coals of different ranks were done using a combined thermogravimetric analysis - mass spectrometry (TG-MS) technique.
Heidbrink, Jenny, "A Study of the Behavior of Chlorine and Organic Compounds During Combustion in an AFBC System" (1996). Masters Theses & Specialist Projects. Paper 801.