Prediction of spontaneous combustion tendency of coal based on acetaldehyde release

Acetaldehyde is one of the crucial gases with odor released during the early stage of spontaneous combustion of coal, and it is essential for predicting the spontaneous combustion tendency of coal. In this study, we systematically investigated the effects of coal metamorphic degree, coal temperature, coal particle size, and oxygen concentration on the release of acetaldehyde using three coal samples with different metamorphic degrees and a combination of oxidation and warming processes as well as gas and liquid chromatography. The results showed that with the increase in temperature, the amount of acetaldehyde released first increased and then stabilized or slightly decreased. The amount of acetaldehyde released at low temperatures was linearly related to oxygen consumption. The higher the degree of coal deterioration, the lower the amount of acetaldehyde released. As the particle size decreased, the amount of acetaldehyde released increased and then decreased. Finally, four warning levels were established based on the concentrations and trends of acetaldehyde together with other index gases.