Investigations on the influence of steam on the release of sodium, potassium, chlorine, and sulphur species during high temperature gasification of coal

► We determined the release of Na-, K-, S-, and Cl-species during gasification with and without steam. ► Key chemical species are 23Na+, 34H2S+, 36HCl+, 39K+/39NaO+, 58NaCl+, 64SO2+, and 74KCl+. ► The amount of alkali metal hydroxide species increased significantly under the influence of steam. ► Chlorine and steam were identified to be of special importance in the release mechanism of alkali metals.