Optimizing Co-pelletization of coal gasification slag and corn stalks for enhanced combustion performance and reduced CO/CO2 emissions

Escalating global energy demand and stringent environmental regulations necessitate the efficient utilization of coal gasification slag (CGS), a major by-product of coal gasification. This study first employed response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize key parameters for producing co-pelletized fuel from CGS and corn stalks (CS), and then evaluated its combustion performance. Pressure, temperature, CGS ratio, compression speed, and holding time were investigated, with particle density, Meyer strength, and energy consumption as response metrics. Optimal conditions (41.62 MPa pressure, 151.26 °C temperature, 25 % CGS proportion, 30 mm/min compression speed, and 201.31 s holding time) yielded fuel particles with a density of 1.22 g/cm3, Meyer strength of 10.24 Mpa, and energy consumption of 5.37 J/g. Combustion analysis revealed enhanced heat release uniformity, lower ignition temperature, and an improved comprehensive combustion index. Additionally, co-pelletization reduced CO and CO2 emissions by 9.70 % and 24.05 %. This research addresses a critical gap in CGS-biomass co-pelletization, demonstrating the feasibility and advantages of CGS-CS co-pelletized fuel as a sustainable solid alternative. The findings provide valuable insights for CGS resource utilization and advancing low-carbon, clean production technologies, thereby supporting applications in sustainable energy systems.