Study of ambient temperature oxidation in low metamorphic coal and the oxidation mechanism

In view of the problem where there is abnormal continuous CO exceedance in the tailgate corner without any sign of spontaneous combustion associated with the mining of low metamorphic coal seam, both desorption experiments and ambient temperature oxidation experiments were carried out, and the ambient temperature oxidation characteristics and its mechanism were studied. The results demonstrate that the original coal seam from which the experimental coal sample was taken, does not contain CO and CO2, and the coal sample can oxidize at ambient temperature. The O2 consumption rate, CO and CO2 production rate is not directly related to the particle size. Low O2 concentration can inhibit but not eliminate the ambient temperature oxidation. In addition to the active sites of coal itself, the ambient temperature oxidation reaction rate is also affected by the inhibitory substances produced by the reaction itself. R1(△CO/△O2), R2(△CO2/△O2) and R3(△CO/△CO2) indexes are mostly not affected by the changes of particle size, O2 concentration and oxidation rates, and the ambient temperature oxidation of coal is dominated by a single mechanism. The ambient temperature oxidation mechanism is also theoretically deduced. The research will have important significance for controlling the abnormal exceedance of CO. •Ambient temperature oxidation rates are not directly related to the particle sizes.•Low O2 concentration cannot eliminate the ambient temperature oxidation.•Inhibitory substances are produced in the reaction process at ambient temperature.•The ambient temperature oxidation of coal is a single mechanism.•CO and CO2 produced at ambient temperature may come from the same precursor.