During coal combustion, NO
x
reduction occurs by two possible routes: homogeneous
reduction by hydrocarbons and heterogeneous reduction by char formed
during coal devolatilization. This paper investigates the latter route,
which also has potential as the basis for post-combustion NO
x
clean-up processes, including reburning. The
purpose of this investigation is to develop a kinetic model for the
reduction of NO
x
by char during coal combustion and to understand the
role of coal rank and char surface area on the resulting char reactivity.
This investigation reports original kinetic data for nine char samples including
graphite, coconut char, and five coal chars ranging in rank from lignite
to low-volatile bituminous (Beulah-Zap, Dietz, Utah Blind Canyon,
Pittsburgh #8, and Pocahontas #3). An empirical kinetic model with
six universal (not char-specific) parameters reproduces the experimental
data for all chars. The investigation also presents an alternative
and simpler model with only two parameters that differ for each char
type. Correlations for the two model parameters were then developed
as a function of two char surface areas: (1) active mineral matter
surface area measured using CO2 titration after high-temperature
exposure and (2) total sample surface area measured using CO2 at room temperature and Dubinin–Polanyi theory. Predictions
of the rate constant values over a wide range of temperature using
this universal approach with only the surface areas differing among
the six chars generally fit the experimental data within ±50%.