CORDIS provides links to public deliverables and publications of HORIZON projects.
Links to deliverables and publications from FP7 projects, as well as links to some specific result types such as dataset and software, are dynamically retrieved from OpenAIRE .
Exploitable results
Environmental factors are playing a major role in the extent of coal utilization. Stringent controls are being placed on SOx and trace element emissions. Conventional and advanced coal cleaning processes can provide large reductions in the concentration of pyrite in coal, a major source of SOx and many trace elements that, if released into the atmosphere, would be considered potentially toxic or environmentally harmful. The degree of reduction is coal and process specific, relating in part to the nature of the minerals in which the trace elements are located and the degree of liberation of these element-bearing minerals. The finer the particle size of the coal and associated mineral matter, the higher the degree of liberation. This can be further enhanced by fine grinding of the feed or pre-cleaned coals. Hence, efficient fine coal grinding and separation processes must be developed. Such processes will result in high mineral matter wastes where the contained and enriched, toxic elements may or may not be stable. Characterization of these wastes, together with disposal options and possible uses will be investigated. The combustion characteristics of clean coal products require evaluation, as does the environmental impact of combustion process residues. This joint research project aims to evaluate the existing situation with regard to the distribution of toxic trace elements within representative samples of Russian and Kazakh raw coals, coal products and combustion residues. In addition, a preliminary study of the potential benefits of coal preparation techniques in reducing toxic trace elements in coal feed stocks and the response of such products in combustion processes will be made. Expected outputs include a preliminary database of trace element concentrations in Russian and Kazakh coals. Such information is increasingly important to existing and potential domestic and export customers. Novel techniques for coal characterization (image analysis) and coal analysis (complete coal dissolution) will be further developed as part of this project. Training in these techniques will transfer skills between partners. The potential for coal quality improvements by conventional and advanced coal preparation techniques will be reported. This will focus on toxic trace element reduction, but will include ash and sulphur reductions. The technical results of this project will be published in international journals and by presentations at international conferences. Later phases of this project will further evaluate appropriate coal preparation technologies at simulated industrial scale and will test the combustion characteristics of larger samples of cleaned coal products. Their potential for producing improved coal-water mixtures (both in terms of transportation and combustion characteristics) will be investigated. Combustion residues will be tested for the nature and stability of their toxic trace element content.
Results
Coal-fired power plants are a major contributor to environmental pollution in the former Soviet Union (FSU). Both Russia and Kazakstan (the NIS partners in this project) have significant coal producing enterprises and coal-fired power plants. Pollutants entering the environment include toxic trace elements (in off-gases and water leaching from combustion residues), sulphur dioxide from inorganic and organic sulphur in the coals and large quantities of solid residues (ash and cinders). Annually coal-fired power generation plants in Russia produce more than 75 million tonnes of ash and cinder waste. No more than 11% of this waste is currently reclaimed for re-use(compared to over one-third in most western countries), mostly for the production of secondary construction materials. The results of this INTAS-funded project have demonstrated that the processing of solid wastes from coal-fired power plants in Russia and Kazakhstan can produce high-quality construction materials (fly ash and cenospheres) and possible recyclable fuel products. It is worthy of note that the United States has recently announced the intention to construct a coal fly ash processing facility (180,000 tonnes/year) using froth flotation technology(Mining Engineering, April 1999, p. 14). The ultra-pure fly ash product will be marketed to local concrete manufacturers as a replacement for Portland cement. The high-purity carbon will initially be used as fuel, with the hope of developing other value-added markets. The fine fractions of Russian and Kazak coals can be upgraded by innovative coal preparation technologies to improve their quality in terms of reduced ash and air toxic contents. The improved quality of the coals could help in reducing the quantities and environmental impact of wastes generated.
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