Combustion characteristics of lignite and oil shale samples by thermal analysis techniques

In this research thermal analysis and kinetics of ten lignite's and two oil shale samples of different origin were performed using a TA 2960 thermal analysis system with thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) and differential al analysis (DTA) modules. Experiments were performed with a sample size of ~10 mg, heating rate of 10°C min^-1. Flow rate was kept constant (10 L h^-1) in the temperature range of 20-900°C. Mainly three different reaction regions were observed in most of the samples studied. The first region was due to the evaporation of moisture in the sample. The second region was due to the release of volatile matter and burning of carbon and called as primary reaction region. Third region was due to the decomposition of mineral matter in samples studied. In kinetic calculations, oxidation of lignite and oil shale is described by first-order kinetics. Depending on the characteristics of the samples, the activation energy values are varied and the results are discussed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.