coal; low-temperature oxidation; thermal analysis; kinetics; oxygen chemisorption; experimental conditions

The process of oxygen chemisorption on coal in the temperature range ?150 - 300°C was studied under different experimental conditions using TG-DSC apparatus. As changing experimental conditions, oxygen flow (20 or 200 cm3 min?1), material of crucible (?-Al2O3 or Pt-Rh alloy) and initial sample mass (2 - 13 mg) were examined with respect to reliability and reproducibility of the parameters derived from TA curves. As parameters quantifying coal oxidation, temperatures of minimal Tmin and maximal Tmax sample mass, mass changes (weight loss WH below Tmin and weight increase WO above Tmin), heat evolution during oxygen chemisorption Q (related to the coal mass increase) and kinetic parameters (activation energy E and frequency factor A) were evaluated.