Study of the particulate matter emitted from residual oil combustion and natural gas reburning

In this work, a study of the particulate matter emitted from standard residual oil combustion and from natural gas reburning during oil combustion in a pilot scale furnace was carried out. The sizes, morphologies and chemical element distribution of particles were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy coupled to an X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The microscopy results show three sorts of particles: spherical, very compact and smooth cenospheres with sizes of 0.6-1.5 mum; cenospheres with a few pores with sizes of 10-20 mum and larger porous cenospheres with sizes of 20-50 mum. The particulate emitted from standard oil combustion shows predominantly spherical and very compact small cenospheres, with a smooth surface, while those emitted from the reburning process present a majority of larger porous cenospheres. The EDS microanalysis showed mainly Al and Si in the smaller cenospheres and mostly S and V in the cenospheres with a few pores and in the larger porous cenospheres.