This work has been undertaken to demonstrate an inhibiting effects of some surfactants on spontaneous combustion of coals. Ignition temperature of coals, carbon monooxide production and oxygen consumption during an oxidation process of coals co-existing with surfactant were measured.
The conclusions drawn from these experiments are as follows;
1) Some surfactants have a certain good influence on ignition temperature of coals, but the magnitude of rising trends are different with varieties of surfactant and coal.
2) In oxidizing process of coals co-existing with a surfactants. a sudden increase in carbon monooxide production were observedatVicertaintemperature (about 150°C). The cafbon monooxide concentration and its production state at that time depended mainly on the used surfactant.
3) Judging from each experimental result, the sudden produciton of carbon monooxide are caused by decomposition of surfactant with consumption of oxygen.
4) A utility of surfactant as an inhibitor can be distinguished in relatively low temperature, In an extent from ambient temperature (room temperature) to about 100°C, the thicker the surfactant are used, the higher the efficiency is.
