Plasma processing of brown coal

The paper presented selected problems of brown coal as well as another solid carbonaceous materials pyrolysis and gasification in a plasma jet. Introduction of the coal into thermal plasma caused its decomposition into simpler components. Among the gaseous products the most important are: CH4, C2H2, C2H, H2, CO and CO2. In an active plasma containing oxygen and/or water, coal conversion to synthesis gas is very high, up to 90%. The content of CO in the after reaction gas is nearly 60% and that of CO2 does not exceeded 3 vol.%. Effective coals pyrolysis to C2H2, and CO2 take place in hydrogen and argon plasma. Total decomposition into gaseous products is close to or exceeded the volatile matter content in the substrates. Studies performed at Warsaw University on brown coal pyrolysis in H2 and Ar plasma confirmed this statement.