Boreskov Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of Russian ...

OP-V-17specific heat of combustion of gaseous media realized on the base of flame-temperaturedetector – was used [4].Results and discussion. The preliminary experiments showed that the addition of2% (wt.) of synthetic zeolites and of 30% (wt.) of natural silica-alumina materials to peat wasoptimal. Significant distinction in percentage of optimal amount of alumosilicate componentof reaction mixture between natural and synthetic alumosilicates was likely due to thedifferent structures of these substances. Moreover, natural alumosilicates when present insignificant amounts in the reaction mixture, besides having a catalytic function also acted alsoheat-carriers, considerably increasing the heat conductivity of the mixture, thus promotingmore uniform heating.In the presence of catalysts the amount of hydrocarbons in gaseous mixture noticeablyincreased. For all the catalysts the average value of the specific heat of combustion was higherapproximately by twofold in comparison with the data obtained for non catalytic process(8.52 MJ/m 3 ). Among both natural and synthetic catalytic materials bentonite clay showed thehighest heat of combustion – 23.88 MJ/m 3 – at optimal loading.The influence of the temperature in the range from 410 to 600 °C on peat pyrolysis in thepresence of bentonite clay was investigated. It was demonstrated that the highest heat ofcombustion (23.88 MJ/m 3 ) was reached at 460 °C. From the data obtained during thetemperature variation it was revealed that the value of apparent activation energy for thecatalytic process is lower almost twice compared to non-catalytic one, while the value offrequency factor (k 0 ) is higher in several orders.Conclusion. The application of synthetic zeolites and natural clays as the catalystsallowed increasing the heat of combustion of resulting gaseous mixture and rate of pyrolysisprocess as well as decreasing the temperature of peat pyrolysis from 700 °C (averagetemperature of non catalytic pyrolysis) to 460 °C. The highest heat of combustion(23.88 MJ/m 3 ) was shown to be reached while using bentonite clay at 460 °C andconcentration of 30% (wt.).References1. A. Demirbas, Energy Sources, 26 (2004), 715.2. S. Yaman, Energy Conversion and Management, 45 (2004), 651.3. P. Lv, J. Chang, T. Wang, C. Wu, Energy and Fuels, 18 (2004), 1865.4. Rus. Pat., 38507, 2004.201