Pennsylvania anthracite refuse: a literature survey on chemical elements in coal and coal refuse. [245 references]

Technical Report · Fri Apr 30 04:00:00 EDT 1971

OSTI ID:5363000

Sun, S C; Vasquez-Rosas, H; Augenstein, D

The following literature survey, based on available published materials, concerns the common and rare chemical elements found in, or associated with, coal and coal refuse. The main purpose was to obtain information concerning the composition of anthracite coal refuse to determine the possibility of extracting marketable products, and thereby facilitate the disposal of anthracite coal refuse. The majority of chemical analyses reported were performed on coal samples ashed by ASTM standards (750/sup 0/C). The original mineral matter in the sample is consequently disturbed and altered. Many minerals such as clays, carbonates, and sulfates are reduced to oxides when subjected to such high temperatures. It must, therefore, be remembered that percentages quoted are usually percentages of ash and not percentages of coal or the mineral matter of the coal. It is common knowledge that many coal refuse banks contain recoverable coal. Of the 46 elements known to occur in the ashes of coal, the oxides of silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, titanium, magnesium, sodium and potassium are considered to be most common. After reviewing the elements known to occur in coal and the limited information pertaining to coal refuse, it appears that probably alumina or aluminum compounds and possibly silica or silicon compounds may be extracted as marketable products. There also exists the possibility of recovering germanium and/or gallium as by-products, if they are present in appreciable amounts. This would be the ideal solution to the refuse disposal problem for it would rid the land of these unsightly and unhealthy waste piles, and at the same time, produce a product or products which may pay for and possibly even profit this means of disposal.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA). Dept. of Mineral Preparation
• OSTI ID: 5363000
• Report Number(s): SR-83
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010600* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
ANTHRACITE
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COAL
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GALLIUM
GERMANIUM
METALS
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NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PENNSYLVANIA
RECOVERY
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SOLID WASTES
USA
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WASTES