New approaches to the characterization of lignites: a combined geological and chemical study

Conference · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5759408

Schobert, H H; Karner, F R; Olson, E S; Kleesattel, D R; Zygarlicke, C J

One of the characteristics of low-rank coals which serves, on a molecular level, to distinguish them from bituminous coals is the close association of some of the inorganic constituents with the organic structure. In particular, most of the alkali and alkaline earth elements are accounted for as cations associated with carboxylic acid groups. Some minor elements occur in part as coordination complexes with organically bound sulfur and nitrogen. In addition, the porous, woody structure provides many sites for authigenic mineralization. Some of the resulting minerals are finely disseminated within the coal matrix to such an extent that they are not separable by traditional float/sink methods. The most important consequence of the close interrelationship between the inorganic constituents and the organic structure is that low-rank coals cannot be characterized adequately by research which focuses solely on either the organic or the inorganic portion of the coal. Studies of both portions must be carried out in an integrated program to gain a proper understanding of this very complex material. This report illustrates this thesis with data from research now in progress on characterization of the Beulah-Zap lignite, North Dakota. The Beulah-Zap bed is a part of Paleocene Sentinel Butte Formation in the Fort Union coal basin, which lies in the northern Great Plains and encompasses portions of western North Dakota, eastern Montana, and northwestern South Dakota, as well as portions of southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada. Several reasons are given for the selection of the Beulah-Zap seam for detailed geological and chemical study. 39 refs., 2 figs., 13 tabs.

• Research Organization: North Dakota Univ., Grand Forks (USA). Energy Research Center
• DOE Contract Number: FC21-83FE60181
• OSTI ID: 5759408
• Report Number(s): DOE/FE/60181-41; CONF-841210-32; ON: DE86010902
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010600* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
011000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BROWN COAL
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM SULFATES
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARBONATES
CELLULOSE
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CLAYS
COAL
COAL DEPOSITS
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GYPSUM
HEMATITE
HUMIC ACIDS
ILLITE
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON ORES
IRON OXIDES
IRON SULFIDES
LIGNIN
LIGNITE
LITHOLOGY
MACERALS
MATERIALS
MICROANALYSIS
MICROSCOPY
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINERALOGY
MINERALS
ORES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROGRAPHY
POLYSACCHARIDES
PYRITE
QUARTZ
RESOURCES
SACCHARIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SUBBITUMINOUS COAL
SULFATE MINERALS
SULFATES
SULFIDE MINERALS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS