This paper presents the characteristics of sulfur release during pyrolysis and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) formation for the pulverized coal combustion of blends of two bituminous coals in a pulverized coal combustion test furnace. The amount of sulfur released during pyrolysis is affected by the total sulfur content and the form of sulfur. Organic sulfur is more readily released to the gaseous phase than pyritic sulfur and sulfate sulfur. When blends of two bituminous coals releasing different amounts of sulfur are fired, the H2S concentrations are between those for the combustion of the single coals. The peak H2S concentration in the near-burner region in the blended combustion coincides with the value estimated from the blending ratio, which means that there is no interaction between the sulfur releases of the two coals during pyrolysis. The reaction behavior of H2S and SO2 after the release of sulfur during the blended combustion is the same as that in the combustion of each single coal. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.