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Title: Environmental research program for slagging fixed-bed coal gasification. Status report, November 1981

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5522083· OSTI ID:5522083

A collaborative environmental research program to provide information needed to assess the health and environmental effects associated with large-scale coal gasification technology is being conducted by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and the Grand Forks Energy Technology Center (GFETC). The objectives are to: investigate the toxicology and chemical composition of coal gasification by-products as a function of process variables and coal feed; compare the characteristics of isokinetic side-stream samples with those of process stream samples; identify the types of compounds responsible for toxicity; evaluate the chemical and toxicological effectiveness of various wastewater treatment operations; refine methodology for the collection and measurement of organic vapors and particulates in workplace air; and obtain preliminary data on workplace air quality. So far the toxicities of a set of process stream samples (tar, oil, and gas liquor) and side-stream condensates from the GFETC gasifier have been measured in a battery of cellular screening tests for mutagenicity and cytotoxicity. Preliminary data on the effects of acute and chronic exposures of laboratory animals to process tar have been obtained. The process tar has been chemically fractionated and the distribution of mutagenicity and compound types among the fractions has been determined. Organic vapors and particulates collected at various times and locations in the gasifier building have been characterized.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Department of Energy, Grand Forks, ND (USA). Grand Forks Energy Technology Center
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-31-109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
5522083
Report Number(s):
ANL/SER-1; ON: DE82009493
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English