Various semi-cokes were obtained from medium–low-temperature pyrolysis of Shenmu long flame coal. The combustion characteristic index and CO2 gasification reactivity of semi-cokes were measured and analyzed using thermogravimetry analysis. The influence of particle size on CO2 gasification reactivities of these semi-cokes was studied. In addition, the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area (SBET), carbon material structure order and carbon crystalline structure were examined by N2 adsorption, Raman spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. All of these properties were used to evaluate the CO2 gasification reactivity of these semi-cokes. The results show that the gasification reactivity of semi-cokes decreases with an increasing crystallinity and structure order. Surface area of the pores is proportional to the reactivity of the semi-coke; the greater the surface area, the faster the gasification reaction rate.

Gasification reactivity and combustion characteristics of semi-coke
    Abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Experimental section
        2.1 Preparation of samples
        2.2 Properties of the samples
        2.3 Combustion experiment
        2.4 Measurements of isothermal and non-isothermal CO2 gasification reactivity
    3 Results and discussion
        3.1 Characterization of semi-coke samples
        3.2 Combustion characteristics
        3.3 Correlations between particle size and gasification reactivity of the semi-cokes
        3.4 Gasification reactivity of semi-cokes
    4 Conclusion
    Acknowledgements 
    References

• Meiqin Zha(Institute of Materials Science and Genomic Engineering, Shanghai University/Ordos Hanbo Technology Co. Ltd./Shanghai Erdos Industrial Technology Co. Ltd.)
• Wei Xia(Ordos Hanbo Technology Co. Ltd./Shanghai Erdos Industrial Technology Co. Ltd.)
• Qiang Niu(Ordos Hanbo Technology Co. Ltd./Shanghai Erdos Industrial Technology Co. Ltd.)