This paper reports an experimental study of the combustion of volatiles from coal, simulated by propane, and its interaction with char gasification reactions in a fluidized-bed coal gasifier (FBG). Experiments were performed under conditions of propane pyrolysis tin a bed fluidized by nitrogen and steam), propane reacting with oxygen and steam (in a bed fluidized by air and steam), char gasification only (in a bed fluidized by air and steam without propane) and in char gasification (in a bed fluidized by air and steam with propane). Axial concentration profiles of various species were obtained at 750, 850 and 950 degreesC. It was observed that the combustion of propane in an FBG, but without char, behaves as reported in the literature for fluidized-bed combustion (FBC). However, upon introducing char into the bed to simulate the reducing atmosphere in an FBG, oxygen was rapidly consumed within a short distance of the distributor; by significant partial oxidation of both propane and its decomposition products to carbon monoxide. The char was found to aid the pyrolysis of propane, limiting the amount of hydrocarbons surviving into the freeboard. The experimental results reported here are believed to be the first observations on the combustion of volatiles under conditions in an FBG. (C) 2001 by The Combustion Institute.