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Title: Influence of particle size and pH on the removal of trace elements from high-rank coals by n-heptane agglomeration

Book ·
OSTI ID:43256
; ;  [1]
  1. CSIC, Oviedo (Spain). Inst. Nacional del Carbon

During combustion and gasification, trace elements are released into the environment, some of them in their vapor phase and others associated with the smaller and more respirable particles. Some of these elements are essential to plant and animal life, while others by be toxic under certain conditions and concentration. Although the effect of trace element emissions is not well known, and the evaluation of the potential toxicity of each element and its common compounds is an issue to be clarified, the growing concerns over environmental aspects associated with trace elements had led to the introduction in many countries of regulations on their emissions form coal fired power plants. The removal of trace elements from coal as a preliminary to coal utilization will be necessary in order to comply with stricter future environmental laws. Physical cleaning techniques, which rely on differences in density or surface properties between organic and inorganic components of coals, are able to reduce content of trace elements associated with mineral matter liberated during grinding. Provided that most trace elements in coal are associated with minerals which are finely disseminated in the coal matrix, advanced physical cleaning processes which are efficient for very small particle sizes, such as oil agglomeration, should be used for separating these elements from coal. In the work described below two Spanish anthracites were agglomerated with n-heptane, over a wide pH range, and the removal of several major and trace elements from these coals during the process evaluated. The influence of pH and coal particle size on the elimination of trace elements from these coals by agglomeration has been investigated.

OSTI ID:
43256
Report Number(s):
CONF-940930-; TRN: IM9521%%422
Resource Relation:
Conference: 11. annual international Pittsburgh coal conference: coal, energy and the environment, Pittsburgh, PA (United States), 12-16 Sep 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Eleventh annual international Pittsburgh coal conference proceedings: Volume 1; Chiang, S.H. [ed.]; PB: 828 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English