Importance of biomass and binder selection for coking briquette preparation: their effect on coal thermoplastic properties.

Blends consisting of a high volatile bituminous coal, biomass and binder that were used in the preparation of briquettes were analyzed in order to select the best components from the viewpoint of their influence on the coal’s thermoplastic properties. The raw materials were studied by means of thermogravimetry, high-temperature rheometry, high temperature proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In addition, the fluidity of the blends was determined with the standard Gieseler plastometer test method (ASTM D 2639-74). Various parameters derived from these different techniques were used to explain the effects of biomass and binder on the fluidity of the blends with coal. It was found that the deleterious effect of biomass was mainly related to its physical properties, whereas the effect of the binder was controlled by its chemical composition. Coal tar, coal tar sludge, pine sawdust and a bio-coal derived from hydrothermally treated waste biomass obtained from pruning were the best materials for the preparation of briquettes for cokemaking