Jump in the air gasification rate of potassium-doped cellulosic chars

Chars prepared from potassium-exchanged carboxy methyl cellulose at several heat treatment temperatures (HTTs) were gasified in air isothermally at selected gasification temperatures (GTs) in the range 633–893 K to investigate the catalytic effectiveness of potassium species. The chars displayed a noticeable jump in gasification rate at a particular gasification temperature (called jump temperature, Tj). The magnitude of jump was much less than that reported for copper and nickel catalysis, but comparable with that for calcium catalysis. Increase in HTT caused a decrease in the jump temperature of chars in contrast with the increase observed in copper, nickel and calcium catalysis; also the magnitude of jump did not decrease, but remained unaltered, on increasing HTT. The different behavior of potassium catalysis is correlated to a change in the chemical state of potassium at higher HTT. The results reveal the dependence of jump phenomenon on chemical state and dispersion of catalyst in the char.