Formation mechanism of solid product produced from co-pyrolysis of Pingdingshan lean coal with organic matter in Huadian oil shale

A mixture of Pingdingshan lean coal and acid-treated Huadian oil shale was co-pyrolyzed in a drop-tube fixed-bed reactor in the temperature range of 300 degrees C-450 degrees C. To reveal the formation mechanism of the solid co-pyrolysis product, changes in some physico-chemical properties were investigated, using analysis by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, pore analysis, thermogravimetry, and electron spin resonance. X-ray diffraction showed that the lattice plane spacing for the co-pyrolyzed mixture decreased from 0.357 nm to 0.346 nm and the average stacking height increased from 1.509 nm to 1.980 nm in the temperature range of 300 degrees C-450 degrees C, suggesting that pyrolysis treatment increased its degree of metamorphism. The amount of oxygen-containing functional groups and pore volume decreased with increasing temperature. Thermogravimetry and electron spin resonance results showed that synergistic effects occurred during the copyrolysis process. A formation mechanism for the solid product was proposed. Hydrogen-rich radicals generated from the pyrolysis of the oil shale were trapped by hydrogen-poor macromolecular radicals of the intermediate metaplast produced from coal pyrolysis, thereby increasing the yield of solid product.