Thermal decarboxylation of demineralized Turkish Beypazari lignite by the catalytic effect of Cr2+, Fe2+ and Co2+

Demineralized Beypazari lignite were thermally decarboxylated using Cr2+, Fe2+ and Co2+ as decarboxylation catalysts. Effective loadings of Cr2+, Fe2+ and Co2+ were 2%, 5% and 3%, respectively. The calorific values of the demineralized lignite samples increased after the thermal decarboxylation experiments to values about 6%, 12% and 15% higher than that of the untreated demineralized sample, when Cr2+, Fe2+ and Co2+, respectively, were used as catalysts. The most effective catalyst with respect to the lowest activation energy attained was Cr2+. Decarboxylation temperatures using Cr2+, Fe2+ and Co2+ as catalysts were, 150oC, 100oC and 200oC, respectively.