INTERACTIONS BETWEEN CARBON AND ALKALI METALS DURING CATALYTIC CARBON GASIFICATION.

The catalytic effect of alkali metals on the gasification rate of carbonaceous materials has been the subject of a number of studies. Despite these efforts, the active form of the catalyst during gasification and the effects of catalyst loss remain unclear. The understanding of the reduction of alkali metal catalysts from its initial oxidized form and the identification of the reduced form are necessary requisites for determining the reaction mechanism. Experimental observations from this laboratory clearly indicate that catalyst loss occurs simultaneously with the reduction. Catalyst loss kinetics suggest that the formation of a reduced form of the catalyst is a prerequisite for rapid vaporization and escape to the gas phase.