Effect of coke mineralogy on the gasification behavior and their implications for innovative blast furnace operations

Coke properties have a strong effect on the efficiency of the ironmaking process, particularly the eco-efficiency of an operating blast furnace. Nine cokes prepared from Australian bituminous coals of varying rank, maceral and ash composition were gasified with 100% carbon dioxide at 1173 K. Coke properties were characterized including quantification of the mineral phases in coke using SIROQUANT(()(TM)()). Factors affecting coke gasification under a range of reaction conditions are described. The study demonstrated the strong effect of coke minerals on the kinetics of gasification when compared to rank and maceral composition of the constituent coals.-The catalytic minerals that had the greatest effect on reactivity were metallic iron,iron sulfides and iron oxides,whereas iron present in amorphous material appeared to have little or no effect. Improved understanding of coke mineralogy would allow coke properties to be tailored for conventional and innovative blast furnace operations.