Characterization of some commercially available Nigerian coals as carbonaceous material for direct reduced iron production

Abstract

Commercially available coals were characterized in this study in order to ascertain their suitability as carbonaceous materials for direct reduced iron (DRI) production. The proximate, elemental and heating value analyses were carried out based on different ASTM standards. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and scanning electron machine equipped with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) spectrometer were further used to obtain the structural components and elemental contents. The samples possess moisture content (2.16–2.41%), ash (78.88–86.28%), and fixed carbon (1.22–4.38%). The samples contain carbon in the range of 1.18–5.24%. The heating values of the sample were in the range of 0.45–1.94 MJ/kg. The predominant functional group in the samples were Si-C and Si-O-Si at 722–817 cm−1 and 1200–1050 cm−1, respectively. The micrographs of the samples also displayed agglomeration of silica and carbide with silicon and aluminum dominating the EDX spectra. It was concluded that the samples characterized in this study were not coals but they belong to the clay/sedimentary rock family. Thus, they are not suitable as carbonaceous material for DRI making.