Highly reactive coke made from Low-rank Coal: Relationship between thermal properties and multilevel structure

Utilization of high-reactivity coke is an effective countermeasure to achieve low carbon blast furnace. We proposed a method for preparing high-reactivity metallurgical coke using low-rank coal. Low-rank coal and its semi-coke were mixed with a certain proportion of caking bituminous coal and then converted to briquetting coal under high pressure. The coke prepared by high-temperature carbonization had a high compressive strength. The reaction rate and strength after the reaction of the coke with iso-solution loss were examined at different temperatures. The matrix reaction characteristics, microcrystalline structure, optical structure, apparent porosity, micron-sized pore distribution, nitrogen and carbon dioxide adsorption characteristics, and mineral composition of the coke were also investigated. Compared with the traditional coke, the coke prepared from low-rank coal not only had a high reaction rate at all temperatures but also a high strength after iso-solution loss.