ABSTRACT
The combustion of carbon is certainly one of the most ancient chemical reactions utilized by mankind, and it is obviously true today that a major portion of the world's energy is generated by the gasification reactions of carbonaceous materials. During the past decade analyses of conventional kinetic measurements of the effects of naturally occurring or deliberately introduced catalysts on carbon gasification rates have once again proliferated and dominated the literature. The topographical features and localized behavior of catalytic particles during carbon and graphite gasification have been studied in detail using a variety of microscopic techniques. Thermal analysis, especially the combined application of thermo-gravimetry and differential thermal analysis, although an old technique, is now proving useful in interpreting the individual steps that are involved in catalyzed gasification reactions. The effects of natural impurities in catalyzing the reaction of coals and chars with steam have been reported by several groups of investigators.
