Polyethylene as a novel low-temperature inhibitor for lignite coal

Polyethylene was firstly used as a inhibitor for prevent lignite coal from spontaneous combustion. According to inhibition test results, it was showed that the CO generation of lignite coal with polyethylene inhibitor was obviously lower than that of lignite coal without one, indicating that the polyethylene can hinder the oxidation of lignite coal. TG results showed that polyethylene can be thoroughly decomposed at 500 °C. Moreover, the introduction of polyethylene has little influence on the combustion of lignite coal. These characteristics of polyethylene may help to develop a new class of inhibitors.