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

Abstract

Demineralized Beypazari lignite were thermally decarboxylated using Cr2+, Fe2C, and Co2+ as decarboxylation catalysts. Effective loadings of Cr2+, Fe2+, and Co2C 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 150, 100, and 200oC, respectively.