Mechanism of La2O3 as combustion improver in blast furnace coal injection

La2O3 is a combustion improver suitable for burning pulverized coal in blast furnace. La2O3 forms the active species La3+(CO−)3 that weakens the bridge adhesion of carbon structural units and alters the lattice structures, thus reducing the activation energy of the pulverized coal and accelerating the burning process. Research shows that La2O3 can form the active species La3+(CO−)3, which weakens the bridge adhesion of carbon structural units and alters the lattice structures of the fixed carbon, hence decreasing the activation energy of the pulverized coal and accelerating the burning process. © 2016, The Author(s).