The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of coal rank and operating conditions during coal pyrolysis on the resultant char texture properties, morphology and reactivity. A range of bituminous coals were pyrolysed in a fixed bed reactor at different heating rates, It was found that the higher the heating rate and the lower the coal rank, the more microporous chars were obtained. Isothermal (500 degreesC) gasification in 20% oxygen in argon of the chars was carried out using a differential thermogravimetric system (DTG), The results of this work indicated that the increase in the availability of char-active surface sites led to an increase in char reactivity, not only for oxygen but also for other reactive gases, in particular NO, diminishing emissions during the combustion process. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.