174 
IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
to the visible hydrocarbons, which all bituminous coal contains to a 
greater or less extent, and which are driven off, when the coal is heated. 
When coal is heated in a furnace, the volatile content consisting largely 
of methane and ethylene is driven oc. If the volatile gases should not 
enter into a region of high temperature they would simply pass out of 
the chimney with the products of combustion.” 
The relationship existing between the temperature and gaseous prod- 
ucts evolved is summarized in tabulated form by Porter and Ovitz (24). 
TOTAL GAS YIELD AND COMPOSITION AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES. 
(From 10 grams air-dried coal.) 
COAL NO. I. ZEIGLER, ILL. 
Temperature of furnace c 
500 
600 
700 
800 
900 
1000 
1100 
Highest temperature reached in coal. 0 
sse 
480 
585 
685 
811 
920 
1026 
Gas at 25 C— cubic centimeters 
197 
535 
980' 
1550 
2335 
2700 
3120 
Composition of Gas— 
Illuminants 
6.5 
5.0 
4.1 
3,3 
3.2 
3.7 
4.0 
COs 
23.8 
7.6 
6.4 
3.9 
2.5 
2.7 
1.8 
CO 
16.5 
16.1 
21.1 
16.9 
15.2 
15.1 
16.1 
CH 4 C 2 H 0 etc. 
49.5 
55.0 
41.5 
34.4 
27.8 
23.1 
19.4 
H 
S.7 
16.3 
26.9 
41.5 
51.3 
55.4 
58.7 
Value of N. in Cn H2n 2 
1.42 
1.29 
1.21 
1.16 
1.22 
1.18 
1.23 
In this analysis no determination of tar and water were made. 
In the same publication Table 4, an analysis of coal tested, is brought 
forth. 
Laboratory No. 
1 
3 
10 
11 
16 
18 
23 
25 
46 
Bulk sample (100 lbs.) 
Air-drying loss 
1.63 
0.10 
0.69 
14.63 
0)81 
2.30 
5.21 
0.56 
1.64 
Analysis of air dried sample 
57.67 
1.10 
.87 
11.45 
'35 
2.64 
1.96 
2.30 
2.17 
Moistnre a _ _ _ _ _ _ 
}7.40 
1.09 
.98 
10.83 
.39 
3.48 
Volatile matter 
30.38 
30.67 
32.46 
b 35.74 
20.93 
42.23 
32.05 
40.24 
34.61 
Fixed carbon 
54.32 
60.35 
61.66 
47.74 
75.51 
50.65 
56.75 
51.38 
58.37 
Ash — 
7.63 
7.88 
5.01 
5.07 
3.21 
4.48 
9.24 
6.08 
5.45 
Computed to “as received” basis 
9.19 
1.18 
1.55 
24.40 
1.16 
4.88 
7.07 
2.85 
3.74 
Moisture 11 
21.96 
Volatile matter 
29.89 
30.64 
32.22 
30.52 
20.76 
41.25 
30.37 
~40i04 
33.46 
Fixed carbon 
53.41 
60.31 
61.26 
40.75 
74.90 
49.49 
53.80 
51.06 
57.44 
Ash - 
7.51 
7.87 
4.97 
4.33 
3.18 
4.38 
8.76 
6.05 
5.36 
Sulphur _ 
.38 
.61 
.41 
1.48 
.42 
.91 
Nitrogen _ 
1.15 
1.07 
.97 
1.27 
1*16 
“Second determinations given were made on samples twelve to eighteen months later. 
b Determined by modified method: Somermlies, E. E., Journal Amer. Chem. Sbc., Vol. 
28, 1906, p. 1002. 
As far as our study is concerned, the two tables above show essentially 
two categories, first, the gaseous products such as C'O, C 2 H 6 etc. ; second, 
