Coal-fired　power　plants　require　higher　flexibility　and　a　broader　range　of　the　operating　temperature　than　before　to　accommodate　the　load　regulation　of　the　power　grid.　The　relationship　between　the　reaction　temperature　and　the　characteristics　of　particulate　matter　(PM)　need　to　be　better　understood.　In　this　study,　Zhundong　coal　combustion　was　conducted　in　a　drop　tube　furnace　at　different　reaction　temperatures　in　air.　The　PM　characteristics　and　elemental　contributions　are　investigated　in　detail.　The　experimental　results　show　that　the　mass　yields　of　PM0.4　and　PM0.4-10　are　non-monotonic　with　the　reaction　temperature.　The　competition　between　the　generation　of　inorganic　fumes　and　the　removal　of　inorganic　fumes　by　Si–Al-bearing　minerals　governs　the　mass　yield　of　PM0.4.　At　higher　reaction　temperature,　generation　of　Ca,　Mg,　Fe-containing　fumes　increases,　contributing　most　to　the　increment　of　PM0.4;　while　the　sulfation　of　chlorides　is　inhibited,　resulting　in　more　Cl　in　PM0.4.　The　S　content　in　PM0.4　is　mainly　affected　by　the　sulfation　of　AAEMs　(alkali　and　alkaline　earth　metals)　oxides.　The　mass　yield　of　PM0.4-10　is　controlled　by　the　competition　between　the　fragmentation　of　char　or　mineral　particles　and　the　coalescence　of　mineral　particles.　For　Zhundong　coal　combustion,　the　reaction　temperature　is　recommended　to　be　1273K–1373K　to　control　PM　emission.　©　2020　Energy　Institute