Influence of coal ash on the characteristics of corn straw pyrolysis products

To discern influence of inorganic substances in coal on the co-utilization of coal and biomass, coal ash (CA) was added to biomass for pyrolysis. TG-FTIR and fixed bed reactor were used for pyrolysis of corn straw (CS) with CA. XRF and XRD were used to detect the reactants and products components, respectively. At constant heating rate. CA slightly promoted char and gaseous products formation. In the fixed bed reactor, the effect varied with temperature and CA addition ratio. The char and gas yields were changed due to the Si, Al, and other inorganic substances in CA. CS/CA = 1 had the greatest influence on char. Gas yield were reduced at 500-700 °C, but increased at 800 °C with a small proportion of CA. When CA was 1/10 of CS at 800 °C, the gas yield increased by 9.3%, and CH₄, CO, and H₂ increased by 26.1%, 8.4%, and 37.7%, respectively.