THE NATURE AND EFFECT OF SULPHUR COMPOUNDS ON CO2 AND AIR REACTIVITY OF PETROL COKE

Three different single-source coke types (SSA, SSB and SSC) were studied for their air and CO2 reactivities using the Hydro method and the observed correlation with reactivity determinant parameter such as elemental composition was noted. The reaction temperatures were 525 oC and 960 oC for air and CO2 reactivities, respectively. Coke sample SSA recorded the highest CO2 reactivity value of 166 mg/g h while coke sample SSB recorded the lowest value of 25 mg/g h. The coke CO2 reactivity showed a moderately strong correlation with the combined effect of Na, Fe and Ca concentrations. The inhibitory effect of sulphur as a catalytic poison on Na was observed with significant downward trend in CO2 reactivity of the investigated cokes. Coke air reactivities showed the expected strong correlation with V. Air reactivity was highest in sample SSC (262 mg/g h) at V concentration of 378 ppm and lowest in sample SSB (39.6 mg/g h) at V concentration of 68 ppm. Sample SSA recorded reactivity value of 129.6 mg/g h at V concentration of 147 ppm. The compound 1-butanethiol was identified by 1-D 1H NMR and 13C NMR, and by 2-D COSY, HSQC and HMBC NMR spectroscopic techniques. It is proposed that 1-butanethiol is one of the possible organosulphur compounds responsible for the reaction with Na forming a stable non-mobile complex partially inhibiting the catalytic effect of Na