Preliminary petrographic assessment of the suitability of Bobov Dol coals, SW Bulgaria for fluidized-bed coal gasification

Coal samples from seams Ia, I, IIa+b, III, IV, and V from the Bobov Dol deposit in SW Bulgaria were studied using optical microscopy and proximate analysis in order to determine their suitability for fluidized-bed gasification. The moderate- to high seam averaged ash yields and the huminite reflectance values in the range 0.43–0.5 classify the studied coals as medium- to very low grade, low-rank A (sub-bituminous) according to the International classification of in-seam coals. Based on the organic composition and ash yields, the coals from seams IIa+b, III, IV, and V seem more suitable for fluidized-bed gasification, but their usefulness will depend largely on the coal pre-processing.