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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Trace elements in low-rank coals

Conference ·
OSTI ID:349062
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND (United States). Energy and Environmental Research Center

The abundance and forms of occurrence have been determined for several low-rank subbituminous and lignitic coals. The associations of the elements in the coals were determined through extractions, gravity separation, and scanning electron microscopy with wavelength-dispersive analysis. The associations of antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, lead, chromium, cobalt, mercury, manganese, nickel, and selenium were estimated. The elements are distributed between the mineral and the organic fraction. Since low-rank coals contain high levels of oxygen functional groups, the affinity for organic association of trace elements is higher for low-rank coals. The results currently indicate that beryllium and selenium are associated with the organic matrix; chromium and nickel are associated with the inorganic fraction (clays); antimony, cobalt, mercury, and arsenic have an inorganic affinity; manganese is distributed between the organic and inorganic components; and cadmium and lead do not have clear associations because of their low levels in the low-rank coals.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC21-92MC28016
OSTI ID:
349062
Report Number(s):
CONF-980985--; ISBN 1-890977-15-2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English