This paper presents a clean and one-step way to produce acetylene by plasma pyrolysis of coal. A self-designed MW-scale rotating plasma reactor is used to investigate the pyrolysis of pulverized coal, characterized by the upstream injection of coal particles into the rotating plasma. The rotating plasma arc has a stirring effect and the upstream injection facilitates particle transportation, allowing for a good mixing of coal with plasma and high heat transfer efficiency. The effects of magnetic coil current, coal flow rate and synergetic parameters on the pyrolysis were studied, and the optimum operating conditions of pyrolysis process were screened by taking consideration of acetylene mole fraction, yield, specific energy requirement and coal conversion rate. The minimum specific energy requirement of 9.50 kWh/kg-C2H2 was achieved with a magnetic coil current of 875 A. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.