The formation of N-containing products during char-steam gasification has been investigated in a laboratory scale fixed bed reactor.The nitrogen-containing products released during the gasification were measured using an FTIR spectrometer（NH3

HCN and HNCO） and gas chromatography（N2）.The major N-containing products formed during char-steam gasification are NH3

HCN and N2.Reactions of HCN in the same reactor were also studied;these experiments were conducted with HCN alone

HCN/steam

and HCN/steam/char.The results are consistent with a mechanism in which HCN is the primary N-containing product of the char-steam reaction

and the additional products result from further reactions of HCN either in the gas phase or promoted by the surface of the reactor or the char.