The chemical composition of tertiary Indian coal ash and its combustion behaviour – a statistical approach: Part 2

In Part 1 of the present investigation, 37 representative Eocene coal samples of Meghalaya, India were analyzed and their physico-chemical characteristics and the major oxides and minerals present in ash samples were studied for assessing the genesis of these coals. Various statistical tools were also applied to study their genesis. The datasets from Part 1 used in this investigation (Part 2) show the contribution of major oxides towards ash fusion temperatures (AFTs). The regression analysis of high temperature ash (HTA) composition and initial deformation temperature (IDT) show a definite increasing or decreasing trend, which has been used to determine the predictive indices for slagging, fouling, and abrasion propensities during combustion practices. The increase or decrease of IDT is influenced by the increase of Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃, SiO₂, and CaO, respectively. Detrital-authigenic index (DAI) calculated from the ash composition and its relation with AFT indicates Sialoferric nature of these coals. The correlation analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) were used to study the possible fouling, slagging, and abrasion potentials in boilers during the coal combustion processes. A positive relationship between slagging and heating values of the coal has been found in this study.     

Chemical and petrographical characterization of feed coal, fly ash and bottom ash from the Figueira Power Plant, Paraná, Brazil

The aim of the present study is the petrographic and chemical characterization of the coal at the Figueira Power Plant, Paraná, Brazil, prior and after the beneficiation process and the chemical characterization of fly and bottom ashes generated in the combustion process.Petrographic characterization was carried out through maceral analysis and vitrinite reflectance measurements. Chemical characterization included proximate analysis, determination of calorific value and sulphur content, ultimate analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Inductively Coupled Plasma — Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma — Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) analysis, and determination of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content.Vitrinite reflectance analyses indicate a high volatile B/C bituminous coal (0.61 to 0.73% Rrandom). Maceral analyses show predominance of the vitrinite maceral group (51.6 to 70.9 vol.%, m.m.f). Except of the Run of mine (ROM) coal sample, the average calorific value of the coals is 5205 kcal/kg and ash yields range from 21.4 to 38.1 wt.%. The mineralogical composition (X-ray diffraction) of coals includes kaolinite, quartz, plagioclase and pyrite, whereas fly and bottom ashes are composed by mullite, ettringite, quartz, magnetite, and hematite. Analyses of major elements from coal, fly and bottom ashes indicate a high SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and Fe₂O₃ content. Trace elements analysis of in-situ and ROM coals by ICP-MS and ICP-AES show highest concentration in Zn and As. Most of the toxic elements such as As, Cd, Cr, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn are significantly reduced by coal beneficiation. Considering the spatial distribution of trace elements in the beneficiated coal samples, which were collected over a period of three months, there appears to be little variation in Cd and Zn concentrations, whereas trace elements such as As, Mo, and Pb show a larger variation.In the fly and bottom ashes, the highest concentrations of trace elements were determined for Zn and As. When compared with trace element concentrations in the feed coal, fly ashes show a significant enrichment in most trace elements (As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl, and Zn), suggesting a predominantly volatile nature for these elements. In contrast, Sn is distributed evenly within the different ash types, whereas U shows depleted concentration in both bottom and fly ash samples.According to the International Classification of in-seam coals the Cambuí coals are of para/ortho bituminous rank of low grade (except for the ROM sample), and are characterized by the predominance of vitrinite macerals.     

Geochemistry, mineralogy, and technological properties of the main Stephanian (Carboniferous) coal seams from the Puertollano Basin, Spain

This study is focused on the occurrence and distribution of mineral matter and major and trace elements in the high volatile bituminous coal from Puertollano (south-central Spain). The relationship between ash behaviour and inorganic composition, as well as the possible formation of fouling and slagging deposits in boilers during the conversion process, were investigated. The Puertollano coals do not exhibit plastic properties, despite their rank, probably because of their high ash and inertinite contents.The Puertollano coal has medium to low total S content (0.48% to 1.63% db, with a mean of 1.0% db) and is characterised by relatively high contents of Si, Pb, Sb, and Cs. Some elements such as As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ge, Li, Mn, Ni, W, and Zn are also present in relatively high contents. The enrichment in a number of heavy metals could be attributed to the common sulphide ores occurring near the Puertollano coal deposit.The following trace elements affinities are deduced: (a) sulphide affinity: As, Co, Cd, Cu, Ni, Sb, Tl, and Zn; (b) aluminum–silicate affinity: K, Ti, B, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu Ga, Hf, Li, Nb, Rb, Sn, Ta, Th, V, Zr, and LREE; (c) Carbonate affinity: Ca, Mg, Mn, and B; (d) organic affinity: B.The very high Si levels and the anomalous enrichment in Cs, Ge, Pb, Sb, and Zn shown by the Puertollano coals account for the high contents of these elements in the Puertollano fly ash when compared with the other Spanish coal fly ashes.The chemical composition of the high temperature ash (HTA) is consistent with the trend shown by the ash fusion temperatures (AFT) and also with the predictive indices related to slagging and fouling propensities. Thus, the ash fusion temperatures increase with high values of Al₂O₃ as well as with the decrease in Fe₂O₃, CaO, and MgO.     

Contact angles in CO2-water-coal systems at elevated pressures

Injection of carbon dioxide into coal seams is considered to be a potential method for its sequestration away from the atmosphere. However, water present in coals may retard injection: especially if carbon dioxide does not wet the coal as well as water. Thus contact angles in the coal-water-CO₂ system were measured using CO₂ bubbles in water/coal systems at 40 °C and pressures up to 15 MPa using five bituminous coals. At low pressures, in this CO₂/water/coal system, receding contact angles for the coals ranged between 80° to 100°; except for one coal that had both high ash yield and low rank, with a contact angle of 115°, indicating that it was hydrophilic. With increasing pressure, the receding contact angles for the different coals decreased, indicating that they became more CO₂-wetting. The relationship between contact angle and pressure was approximately linear. For low ash or high rank coals, at high pressure the contact angle was reduced to 30-50°, indicating the coals became strongly CO₂-wetting; that is CO₂ fluids will spontaneously penetrate these wet coals. In the case of the coal that was both high ash and hydrophilic, the contact angle did not drop to 90° even at the highest pressures used. These results suggest that CO₂ will not be efficiently adsorbed by all wet coals equally well, even at high pressure. It was found that at high pressures (> 2 MPa) the rate of penetration of carbon dioxide into the coals increased rapidly with decreasing contact angle, independently of pressure. Injecting CO₂ into wet coals that have both low rank and high ash will not trap CO₂ as well as injecting it into high rank or low ash coals.     

Selection of coals of different maturities for CO2 Storage by modelling of CH4 and CO2 adsorption isotherms

CO₂ injection in unmineable coal seams could be one interesting option for both storage and methane recovery processes. The objective of this study is to compare and model pure gas sorption isotherms (CO₂ and CH₄) for well-characterised coals of different maturities to determine the most suitable coal for CO₂ storage. Carbon dioxide and methane adsorption on several coals have been investigated using a gravimetric adsorption method. The experiments were carried out using both CO₂ and CH₄ pure gases at 25 °C from 0.1 to 5 MPa (1 to 50 bar). The experimental results were fitted using Temkin's approach but also with the corrected Langmuir's and the corrected Tóth's equations. The two last approaches are more accurate from a thermodynamical point of view, and have the advantage of taking into account the fact that experimental data (isotherms) correspond to excess adsorption capacities. These approaches allow better quantification of the adsorbed gas. Determined CO₂ adsorption capacities are from 0.5 to 2 mmol/g of dry coal. Modelling provides also the affinity parameters of the two gases for the different coals. We have shown these parameters determined with adsorption models could be used for classification and first selection of coals for CO₂ storage. The affinity ratio ranges from a value close to 1 for immature coals to 41 for high rank coals like anthracites. This ratio allows selecting coals having high CO₂ adsorption capacities. In our case, the modelling study of a significant number of coals from various ranks shows that anthracites seem to have the highest CO₂ storage capacities. Our study provides high quality affinity parameters and values of CO₂ and CH₄ adsorption capacities on various coals for the future modelling of CO₂ injection in coal seams.     

Arsenic in coal: a review

The review presented covers: (a) historical introduction; (b) some analytical comments; (c) some peculiarities of the As geochemistry in environment; (d) an estimation of coal Clarke value of As; (e) some coals enriched in As; (f) mode of As occurrence in coal; (g) factors influencing the As distribution in coal matter and coal bed; (h) genetic topics; (i) some topics related to environmental impact of As by the coal combustion.The World average As content in coals (coal Clarke of As) for the bituminous coals and lignites are, respectively, 9.0±0.8 and 7.4±1.4 ppm. On an ash basis, these contents are higher: 50±5 and 49±8 ppm, respectively. Therefore, As is a very coalphile element: it has strong affinity to coal matter — organic and (or) inorganic but obligatory authigenic. The coalphile affinity of As is like that for Ge or S.There is strong regional variability of As distribution due to geologic variability of the individual coal basins. For example, bituminous coals in Eastern Germany, Czech Republic and SE China are enriched in As, whereas the coals in South Africa or Australia are very depleted compared to coal Clarke of As. In general, some relationship exists between As content and its mode of occurrence in coals. Typically, at high As content, sulphide sites dominate (pyrite and other more rare sulphides), whereas at low As content, As_org dominates, both being authigenic. A contribution of the terrigenic As (in silicates) is usually minor and of the biogenic As_bio (derived from coal-forming plants) is poorly known.Both organic and inorganic As can exist not only as chemically bound form but also in the sorbed (acid leacheable) arsenate form. With increasing coal rank, sorbed exchangeable arsenate content decreases, with a minimum in the coking coals (German data: the Ruhr coals).Relations of As content in coal to ash yield (or its partitioning in sink–float fractions) and to coal petrographic composition are usually complicated. In most cases, these relations are controlled by main site (form) of As — As_pyr or As_org. If As_pyr dominates, an As accumulation in heavy fractions (or in high-ash coals) is observed, and if As_org dominates, it is enriched in medium-density fractions (or low- and medium-ash coals). Arsenic is in part accumulated in the inertinite vs. vitrinite (As_org ?).There are four genetic types of As accumulation on coal: two epigenetic and two syngenetic: (1) Chinese type—hydrothermal As enrichment, sometimes similar to known Carlin type of As-bearing telethermal gold deposits; (2) Dakota type—hypergene enrichment from ground waters draining As-bearing tufa host rocks; (3) Bulgarian type—As enrichment resulting from As-bearing waters entered coal-forming peat bogs from sulphide deposit aureoles; (4) Turkish type—volcanic input of As in coal-forming peat bog as exhalations, brines and volcanic ash.During coal combustion at power plants, most of the initial As in coal volatilizes into the gaseous phase. At the widely used combustion of pulverized coal, most of As_org, As_pyr and “shielded” As-bearing micromineral phases escape into gaseous and particulate phase and only minor part of As_clay remains in bottom ash. The dominant fraction of escaping As is in fly ash. Because 97–99% of the fly ash is collected by electrostatic precipitators, the atmospheric emission of As (solid phase and gaseous) is usually assumed as rather minor (10–30% from initial As in coal). However, fly ash disposal creates some difficult environmental problems because it is potentially toxic in natural waters and soils. The As leaching rate from ash disposal is greatly controlled by the ash chemistry. In natural environment, As can be readily leached from acid (SiO₂-rich) bituminous coal ashes but can be very difficult from alkali (CaO-rich) lignite ashes.If the As_pyr form dominates, conventional coal cleaning may be an efficient tool for the removing As from coal. However, organic-bound or micromineral arsenic (“shielded” grains of As-bearing sulphides) are not removed by this procedure.Some considerations show that “toxicity threshold” of As content in coal (permissible concentration for industrial utility) may be in the range 100–300 ppm As. However, for different coals (with different proportions of As-forms), and for different combustion procedures, this “threshold” varies.     

Enrichment of U-Re-V-Cr-Se and rare earth elements in the Late Permian coals of the Moxinpo Coalfield,Chongqing, China: Genetic implications from geochemical and mineralogical data

Rare metals in coal deposits have attracted much attention in recent years because of their potential economic significance. This paper reports the abundance and enrichment origin of rare metals in the Late Permian coals (K1 and K2 Coals) of the Moxinpo Coalfield, Chongqing, southwestern China. The K1 Coal is characterized by highly-elevated concentrations of U-Re-V-Cr-Se and Nb(Ta)-Zr(Hf)-REE assemblages; the latter assemblage is also enriched in the K2 Coal. The high temperature ash (815 °C) of the K1 Coal is enriched in V, Cr, Se, Re, U and REE; the ash of the K2 Coal, and also the floor strata of each seam, are enriched in REE, potentially making all of the units economically viable sources for these elements.The minerals in the K1 Coal are mainly represented by kaolinite, illite and mixed-layer illite/smectite, and pyrite, while the minerals in the K2 Coal consist mainly of kaolinite and tobelite [(NH₄,K)Al₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂]. Authigenic roscoelite [K(V^3 +,Al)₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂] is commonly observed in the K1 Coal under the SEM, and was probably formed by interaction of kaolinite with V derived from permeating U-Re-V-Cr-Se-rich solutions during early diagenesis. The tobelite enriched in the K2 Coal was formed by reaction between kaolinite already present in the coal and NH^4 + derived from decomposition of the organic matter during hydrothermal alteration at a relatively high temperature.The mafic tuffs directly underlying the K1 Coal and containing limestone residual breccias not only served as the substrate for coal accumulation but also as the source of sediment from the uplifted areas around the coal basin. The latter is indicated by low Al₂O₃/TiO₂ ratios (from 10.09 to 14.24), positive Eu anomalies enrichment of medium rare earths (relative to upper continental crust), and detrital calcite of terrigenous origin. The highly-elevated concentrations of U-Re-V-Cr-Se assemblages in the coal were derived from exfiltrational hydrothermal solutions and were then deposited in a euxinic environment. The terrigenous materials in the K2 Coal, however, were derived from felsic-intermediate rocks at the top of the Kangdian Upland, although the elevated concentrations of Nb(Ta)-Zr(Hf)-REE assemblages are attributed to the input of hydrothermal solutions.     

高温高压下煤超微构造的变形特征

本文通过不同温、压实验条件下,不同煤级煤的应力-应变曲线及超微变形构造特征分析,深入探讨了不同煤化程度煤的变形行为及其影响因素。阐明了高温高压和差异应力作用是促使煤结构由无序向有序方向转化,使大分子结构有序畴和定向性增大的重要因素。论述了温度和压力在不同的煤级和不同的实验条件下,具有不同的作用。在中煤级阶段,虽然围压的增大可在一定程度上提高煤的强度,但温度的影响更为重要。较高煤级在小应变阶段,温度起主导作用;而到了大变形阶段,围压的作用又逐渐上升到主导地位。在整个变形过程中,定向压力都是不容忽视的重要因素。     

Geochemical variations of major,trace, rare earth elements in some Gondwana and Eocene coals of India with a comparison of their germanium,lithium, and mercury content

The geochemistry of major, trace, rare earth elements (REEs), with special reference to Ge, Li, and Hg in selected Gondwana and Eocene coals, has been studied. Major oxide and trace element ratios have been utilised to compare the tectonic setting, provenance of source rocks, and paleoweathering conditions that prevailed the during formation of these coals. The Gondwana coals have a higher mean mercury and ash content (244.5 μg/kg and 17.2 %, respectively) than the Eocene coals (142.1 μg/kg, 8.9 % respectively). The major oxides, SiO₂, Fe₂O_3, and Al₂O_3, in Gondwana and Eocene coals, are enriched relative to the upper continental crust (UCC), Chinese and American coals. The UCC normalized trace element concentration coefficients of the Gondwana and Eocene coals show enrichment in Ge, Se, Th, Co, Mo, Sn, W, and Li. The mean Ge and Li concentrations (mg/kg) in Gondwana (106.7, 154.7) and Eocene (120.0, 252.6) exceed the corresponding values in world coal (2.2, and 12). The Rajmahal coals have the highest mean Ge concentration (168.8 mg/kg) among the Gondwana coals while Eocene coals from East Jaintia Hills have the highest mean value (343.7 mg/kg). The Gondwana coals have a higher mean As concentration (3.5 mg/kg) in comparison to the Eocene coals (1.9 mg/kg). The mean of the rare earth elements in Gondwana (24.1 mg/kg) is higher than that in Eocene coals (11.3 mg/kg) and these values are less than the World coals (68.5 mg/kg). Both the Gondwana and Eocene coals are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs). However, among the Eocene coals, the Meghalayan coals show REE enrichment in comparison to Assam coals. Both the Gondwana and Eocene coals were formed in warm and humid climates under oxic conditions with moderate weathering of the source rocks.     

A review of coal properties pertinent to carbon dioxide sequestration in coal seams: with special reference to Victorian brown coals

This paper presents reviews of studies on properties of coal pertinent to carbon dioxide (CO₂) sequestration in coal with specific reference to Victorian brown coals. The coal basins in Victoria, Australia have been identified as one of the largest brown coal resources in the world and so far few studies have been conducted on CO₂ sequestration in this particular type of coals. The feasibility of CO₂ sequestration depends on three main factors: (1) coal mass properties (chemical, physical and microscopic properties), (2) seam permeability, and (3) gas sorption properties of the coal. Firstly, the coal mass properties of Victorian brown coal are presented, and then the general variations of the coal mass properties with rank, for all types of coal, are discussed. Subsequently, coal gas permeability and gas sorption are considered, and the physical factors which affect them are examined. In addition, existing models for coal gas permeability and gas sorption in coal are reviewed and the possibilities of further development of these models are discussed. According to the previous studies, coal mass properties and permeability and gas sorption characteristics of coals are different for different ranks: lignite to medium volatile bituminous coals and medium volatile bituminous to anthracite coals. This is important for the development of mathematical models for gas permeability and sorption behavior. Furthermore, the models have to take into account volume effect which can be significant under high pressure and temperature conditions. Also, the viscosity and density of supercritical CO₂ close to the critical point can undergo large and rapid changes. To date, few studies have been conducted on CO₂ sequestration in Victorian brown coal, and for all types of coal, very few studies have been conducted on CO₂ sequestration under high pressure and temperature conditions.     

Tribo-electrostatic behaviour of high ash non-coking Indian thermal coal

The tribo-electrostatic method was applied to beneficiate non-coking Indian thermal coal from Ramagundam coal mines containing nearly 45% ash content. The microscopic studies revealed that quartz and kaolinite are the dominant minerals whereas illite, goethite, siderite and pyrite are the minor inclusions in the coal. Contact electrification of ash-forming minerals and coal matter was carried out using different tribo-charger materials of Al, Cu, brass, perspex and teflon. The Cu tribo-charger was found to be optimum to acquire differential charge between ash-forming inorganics and coal matter. The temperature effect on the magnitude of contact charge acquisition was found to be significant. Tests on a laboratory in-house built tribo-electrostatic free-fall separator with minus 300 μm coal showed that the ash content was reduced from 45% to about 18%, and a clean coal product as judged by the washability studies can be obtained. The results illustrate that the non-coking coals can be beneficiated using the scientific knowledge on the response and behaviour of coal and non-coal matters to electric charges.     

内蒙古胜利煤田0-1孔煤中微量元素地球化学特征

运用电感耦合等离子体质谱和煤质分析等技术方法,对内蒙古胜利煤田0-1号钻孔揭露的早白垩世1、2和4号煤层(共20个煤分层,1个夹矸)进行了研究。结果显示,1、2号煤层的挥发分产率大于44%,透光率小于50%,煤类为褐煤;4号煤层挥发分产率42%,透光率53%,煤类为次烟煤(长焰煤);1、2号煤层灰分和硫含量较高,4号煤层灰分和硫含量较低。与世界煤微量元素含量平均值相比,1、2和4号煤层中Sb富集,V、Zr、Nb、Hf、W等元素轻微富集,其它微量元素的含量接近或低于世界煤含量的平均值。1、2和4号煤层中稀土元素和钇(REY)含量较低,根据上地壳标准值(La/Lu)N比值,所有煤分层均显示重稀土富集类型特征,而煤中泥岩夹矸则显示轻稀土富集类型特征。     

Characteristics of Coal Ashes in Yanzhou Mining District and Distribution of Trace Elements in Them

In the process of combustion of coal organic and inorganic materials in it will undergo a complex variation.Part of thew will become volatiles and,together with coal smoke,enter into atmosphere,some will remain in micro-particulates such as ash and dust and find their way into atmosphere in the form of solid particles,and the rest will be retained in ash and slag.Coal ashes are the residues of organic and inorganic substances in coal left after coal combustion and the compostition of coal ashes in dependent on that of minerals and organic matter in coal.This paper deals with the chemical composition of coal ashes,the distribution of trace elements in them and their petrological characteristics,and also studies the relationship between the yield of coal ashes and the distribution of trace elements.In addition,a preliminary study in also undertaken on the factors that affect the chemical composition of coal ashes.As viewed from the analyses of coal ash samples collected from the Yanzhou mining district,it can be seen clearly that coal ashes from the region studied are composed chiefly of crystalline materials,glassy materials and uncombusted organic matter and the major chemical compositions are SiO2,Al2O3,Fe2O3,and CaO,as well as minor amounts of SO3,PWO5,Na2O,K2O and TiO2.During the combustion of coal,its trace elements will be redistributed and most of them are enriched in coal ashes.At the same time,the concentrations of the trace elements in flying ash are much higher than those of bottom ash,i.e.,with decreasing particle-size of coal ashes their concentrations will become higher and higher.So the contents of trace elements are negatively proportional to the particle-size of coal ashes.There has been found a positive correlation between the trace elements Th.V.Zn,Cu and Pb and the yield of coal ashes while a negative correlation between Cl and the yield of coal ashes.     

CBM and CO2-ECBM related sorption processes in coal: A review

This article reviews the state of research on sorption of gases (CO₂, CH₄) and water on coal for primary recovery of coalbed methane (CBM), secondary recovery by an enhancement with carbon dioxide injection (CO₂-ECBM), and for permanent storage of CO₂ in coal seams.Especially in the last decade a large amount of data has been published characterizing coals from various coal basins world-wide for their gas sorption capacity. This research was either related to commercial CBM production or to the usage of coal seams as a permanent sink for anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. Presently, producing methane from coal beds is an attractive option and operations are under way or planned in many coal basins around the globe. Gas-in-place determinations using canister desorption tests and CH₄ isotherms are performed routinely and have provided large datasets for correlating gas transport and sorption properties with coal characteristic parameters.Publicly funded research projects have produced large datasets on the interaction of CO₂ with coals. The determination of sorption isotherms, sorption capacities and rates has meanwhile become a standard approach.In this study we discuss and compare the manometric, volumetric and gravimetric methods for recording sorption isotherms and provide an uncertainty analysis. Using published datasets and theoretical considerations, water sorption is discussed in detail as an important mechanisms controlling gas sorption on coal. Most sorption isotherms are still recorded for dry coals, which usually do not represent in-seam conditions, and water present in the coal has a significant control on CBM gas contents and CO₂ storage potential. This section is followed by considerations of the interdependence of sorption capacity and coal properties like coal rank, maceral composition or ash content. For assessment of the most suitable coal rank for CO₂ storage data on the CO₂/CH₄ sorption ratio data have been collected and compared with coal rank.Finally, we discuss sorption rates and gas diffusion in the coal matrix as well as the different unipore or bidisperse models used for describing these processes.This review does not include information on low-pressure sorption measurements (BET approach) to characterize pore sizes or pore volume since this would be a review of its own. We also do not consider sorption of gas mixtures since the data base is still limited and measurement techniques are associated with large uncertainties.     

陕北横山矿区延安组3-1煤层Sr和Ba的分布及赋存模式

煤中微量元素Sr和Ba的分布和赋存模式对研究煤层成煤古环境和煤炭的洁净利用有重要的意义。通过对横山5个矿区24个主采煤层煤样的工业分析、元素分析、矿物组成分析,采用相关性分析和逐级化学提取实验,研究该主采煤层中Sr和Ba的分布和赋存模式。研究发现,区内超过75%煤样属于特低灰煤;约96%的煤样全硫质量分数超过1%;主要的矿物成分为高岭石、黄铁矿和方解石。超过总分析煤样75%的样品中Sr和Ba富集,且在水平方向上Sr和Ba含量北部较南部更高。煤中Sr和Ba主要负载在天青石、重晶石、菱锶矿、碳酸钡矿、方解石和文石等矿物中。煤中Sr和Ba富集的主要原因是煤层中含有负载这两种元素的矿物。      

Brecciated and mineralized coals in Union County, Western Kentucky coal field

Coals from the D-2 and D-3 boreholes in the Grove Center 7 1/2 min quadrangle, Union County, KY, have been found to be highly brecciated and mineralized. The mineralization is dominated by a carbonate assemblage with minor sulfides and sulfates. Included among the secondary minerals is the lead selenide, clausthalite. Overall, the emplacement of secondary vein minerals was responsible for raising the rank of the coals from the 0.6–0.7% R_max range found in the area to as high as 0.95–0.99% R_max.A 1.3-m-thick coal found in one of the boreholes is unique among known Western Kentucky coals in having less than 50% vitrinite. Semifusinite and fusinite dominate the maceral assemblages. The coal is also low in sulfur coal, which is unusual for the Illinois Basin. It has an ash yield of less than 10%; much of it dominated by pervasive carbonate veining. The age of the thick coal in core D-2 is similar to that of the Elm Lick coal bed, found elsewhere in the Western Kentucky coalfield. The coals in D-3 are younger, having Stephanian palynomorph assemblages.     

Methane and carbon dioxide adsorption–diffusion experiments on coal: upscaling and modeling

Numerical modelling of the processes of CO₂ storage in coal and enhanced coalbed methane (ECBM) production requires information on the kinetics of adsorption and desorption processes. In order to address this issue, the sorption kinetics of CO₂ and CH₄ were studied on a high volatile bituminous Pennsylvanian (Upper Carboniferous) coal (VR_r=0.68%) from the Upper Silesian Basin of Poland in the dry and moisture-equilibrated states. The experiments were conducted on six different grain size fractions, ranging from <0.063 to 3 mm at temperatures of 45 and 32 °C, using a volumetric experimental setup. CO₂ sorption was consistently faster than CH₄ sorption under all experimental conditions. For moist coals, sorption rates of both gases were reduced by a factor of more than 2 with respect to dry coals and the sorption rate was found to be positively correlated with temperature. Generally, adsorption rates decreased with increasing grain size for all experimental conditions.Based on the experimental results, simple bidisperse modelling approaches are proposed for the sorption kinetics of CO₂ and CH₄ that may be readily implemented into reservoir simulators. These approaches consider the combination of two first-order reactions and provide, in contrast to the unipore model, a perfect fit of the experimental pressure decay curves. The results of this modeling approach show that the experimental data can be interpreted in terms of a fast and a slow sorption process. Half-life sorption times as well as the percentage of sorption capacity attributed to each of the two individual steps have been calculated.Further, it was shown that an upscaling of the experimental and modelling results for CO₂ and CH₄ can be achieved by performing experiments on different grain size fractions under the same experimental conditions.In addition to the sorption kinetics, sorption isotherms of the samples with different grain size fractions have been related to the variations in ash and maceral composition of the different grain size fractions.     

Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of coal ash from the Northwest Thrace region,Turkey: a case study

The first combined mineralogical and geochemical investigation of coal ashes from the Northwest Thrace Coal Basin, Turkey, was performed as a case study. The coal ash samples were obtained at 525 °C (group I), 750 °C (group II), and 1000 °C (group III) ashing temperatures from coal samples from the basin and were studied in terms of their mineralogical and geochemical composition using XRD and ICP-MS methods. The determination of the mineralogical composition was done for all of the groups; the geochemical analysis was carried out only for group II. In accordance with the high SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, CaO, and SO₃ content of the ash, quartz (SiO₂), hematite (Fe₂O₃), and anhydrite (CaSO₄) are the major crystalline phases for all of the ash groups. The other minerals are muscovite, thenardite, tridymite, calcite, wollastonite, anorthite, cristobalite, gibbsite, ternesite, mullite, nahcolite, and nacrite. High-temperature phases such as mullite, wollastonite, and anorthite were observed at 750 and 1000 °C. According to the (Fe₂O₃ + CaO + MgO+ K₂O+ Na₂O)/(SiO₂ + Al₂O₃+ TiO₂) ratios varying from 0.19 to 5.65, the ashes are highly prone to slagging. Compared to average values of low-rank coal ashes, the contents of V, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cs, W, and U of the ash are higher, whereas the total content of rare earth elements (REEs) (Σ 163.7 ppm) are lower. Based on upper continental crust normalization, As, Se, Th, and U are enriched in all of the samples. The higher trace element contents in the ashes might be considered as a possible health hazard. The correlation analyses indicated that Ca is associated with anhydrite and As with hematite. The correlation analyses also showed that newly formed Al and Ca silicates may contain the elements such as Ti, K, Na, Cr, Sn, and Pb.     

Quantification of mineral matter in the Argonne Premium Coals using interactive Rietveld-based X-ray diffraction

The mineral matter in the eight reference North American coal samples of the Argonne Premium Coal series has been investigated on a quantitative basis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. X-ray diffraction data obtained from electronic low-temperature (oxygen–plasma) ash (LTA) residues, from ashes produced by heating the coals in air at 370°C, and also from the raw coals themselves, were evaluated using an interactive data processing system ( ™) based on Rietveld interpretation methods. The results from the three types of material (LTA, 370°C ash and raw coal) were compared for each sample. This allowed the components present in the raw coals in crystalline form to be recognised separately from mineral artifacts produced, particularly in the low-rank coals, from interaction of organically associated elements (Ca, S, etc.) during the two ashing processes.After the allowance for the production of any artifacts, the quantitative mineral assemblages identified from XRD of the raw coals were found to be consistent, even for coals having a relatively low ash percentage (around 5%), with the results obtained from the respective mineral concentrates prepared by the ashing methods. The effects of heating the coal to 370°C could also be distinguished, relative to the raw coal or the LTA, through changes in components such as pyrite and the clay minerals.Although some areas of uncertainty exist, particularly with magnesium in the low-rank coals, the calculated chemical compositions of the coal ash derived from the mineral mixtures identified for each coal were also found to be consistent with the results of direct chemical analysis of the respective coal ash materials.     

Interpretation of carbon dioxide diffusion behavior in coals

Storage of carbon dioxide in geological formations is for many countries one of the options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus to satisfy the Kyoto agreements. The CO₂ storage in unminable coal seams has the advantage that it stores CO₂ emissions from industrial processes and can be used to enhance coalbed methane recovery (CO₂-ECBM). For this purpose, the storage capacity of coal is an important reservoir parameter. While the amount of CO₂ sorption data on various natural coals has increased in recent years, only few measurements have been performed to estimate the rate of CO₂ sorption under reservoir conditions. An understanding of gas transport is crucial for processes associated with CO₂ injection, storage and enhanced coalbed methane (ECBM) production.A volumetric experimental set-up has been used to determine the rate of sorption of carbon dioxide in coal particles at various pressures and various grain size fractions. The pressure history during each pressure step was measured. The measurements are interpreted in terms of temperature relaxation and transport/sorption processes within the coal particles. The characteristic times of sorption increase with increasing pressure. No clear dependence of the characteristic time with respect to the particle size was found. At low pressures (below 1 MPa) fast gas diffusion is the prevailing mechanism for sorption, whereas at higher pressures, the slow diffusion process controls the gas uptake by the coal.