Plasma reactions with powdered coal

A plasma jet was developed which would produce flame temperatures up to 8100 °K. A method for determining plasma temperatures was developed, and temperatures were calculated for various mixtures and flow rates of argon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. High volatile and subbituminous Utah coals were reacted in plasmas containing only argon and plasmas containing mixtures of argon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. The results of the coal experiments were compared with experiments using methane, coke from the high volatile coal, and an activated charcoal. The major products produced were acetylene and hydrogen cyanide. The highest yields of these products were obtained from the high volatile coal. The coke and charcoal samples were relatively inert. It was concluded that the products were produced from the volatile matter in the coal. Quenching the reactions with a water spray did not change product yields on a distilled volatile matter basis.