The　lifting　gas　activates　the　coal　particles,　which　increases　their　ability　to　reduce　NO.　This　technique　overcomes　the　oxygen　consumption　of　large　pulverized　coal　in　the　early　stages　of　re-firing　during　air/flue　gas　transport　of　pulverized　coal.　This　study　conducted　experiments　on　a　planar　flame　burner　bench　to　analyze　the　physicochemical　structure　evolution　of　coal　coke　after　natural　gas　and　syngas　activation　using　FTIR,　XPS,　and　BET.　The　NO　reduction　capacity　was　tested　on　a　micro　fluidized　bed　reaction　test　bench.　The　results　show　that　natural　gas＇s　upgrading　effect　is　better　than　syngas.　Hydrogen　and　hydrocarbon　radicals　generated　by　the　reaction　of　natural　gas　with　oxygen　play　a　significant　role　in　activation.　After　upgrading　by　natural　gas,　the　specific　surface　area　of　carbon　increased　by　about　54.2　%,　the　total　pore　volume　increased　by　about　51.2　%,　the　whole　oxygen-containing　groups　decreased　by　nearly　4.4　%,　the　total　amount　of　alkyl　complexes　increased　by　about　3.6　%,　and　the　nitric　oxide　reducing　ability　increased　by　almost　75　%.　The　technology　minimizes　expensive　reactive　gases　while　ensuring　less　reburned　coal　is　used　to　reduce　NOx　emissions.　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.