Peat Coal Research Articles

GENESIS OF THE UPPER PLEISTOCENE GRAVEL FROM THE ABESINIJA PIT SE FROM ZAGREB (CROATIA)

Polymictic gravels exploited in the vicinity of Rugvica, SE from Zagreb, comprise clasts of various lithology, colour, shape, and size. Pebbles are composed of sedimentary, volcanic and, sporadically, metamorphic rocks. During the field work we recognized fossils in the abundant carbonate pebbles. Most of the carbonate clasts are rounded, discoidal in shape, varying in colour from white to dark grey, almost black. Pebbles were measured by a calliper and petrographic thin sections were prepared from fossiliferous pebbles. Numerical analyses pointed to some minor differences in their shape and size, but micropaleontological analyses revealed clasts of Carboniferous, Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene age. Most of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic clasts originate from the two local mountain areas (Medvednica Mt. and Samobor Hills), with part of the Jurassic-Cretaceous pebbles possibly derived from SW Slovenia. Irregularly shaped and sometimes poorly rounded clasts of the Paleogene/Neogene ages seem to be abruptly transported to short distances by torrents or streams. The most enigmatic were the clasts of Carboniferous-Permian age. The nearest Palaeozoic outcrops occur upstream in Central Slovenia, but some fossils point to the even longer transport route, from the Karavanks in the upper flow of the Sava River. Gravels are overlain by fine-grained lake sediments and peat coal. Peat comprises significant amount of pine pollen, pointing to the warming period within the Late Pleistocene, which was additionally confirmed by the radiocarbon dating.

Humic Acid: A Promising and Green Bioorganic Catalyst in Organic Syntheses

AbstractThe growing pollution and threat to the environment demand green synthetic methods. Green chemistry mainly focuses on minimizing the waste and utilization of green solvents, energy sources, and catalysts and prefers one‐pot reactions. In this context, humic acid (HA), a natural bioorganic catalyst found in rivers, peat coal and sewage; is a high molecular weight macromolecule containing multifunctional groups, mainly contains quinone, phenolic OH, and COOH groups which make it acidic and activate carbonyl groups by protonation. Owing to its green aspect such as biodegradability, recyclability and reusability, humic acid is considered as sustainable bioorganic catalyst which meets the criteria for industrial requirements. The HA is mild acidic in nature, thus many functional groups tolerate in the HA catalyzed reactions. After few initial reports in 2001 and 2009, the HA catalyzed reactions gained much attention by the organic synthetic community from 2019 in aldol condensation, Knoevenagel condensation, Claisen‐Schmidt reaction, Michael addition, Strecker synthesis, tetrazole synthesis, Hantzsch dihydropyridine synthesis, hydrosilylation of terminal alkenes, hydrogenation, α‐aminophosphonate synthesis, cross coupling reactions such as Heck and Suzuki coupling reactions. Herein we report the comprehensive analysis on the role of HA in organic transformations providing diverse array of molecular scaffolds till date and future perspective.

Effects of Metal Chlorides on the Hydrothermal Carbonization of Grape Seeds

In this study, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of grape seeds, a lignocellulosic biomass, was carried out at various temperatures (200, 225, and 250 °C), different reaction times (6, 12, and 24 h), and different biomass:water ratios (0.025, 0.05, and 0.1). The most important parameter affecting the yields and characteristics of hydrochars was found to be temperature. The HTC of grape seeds was then conducted in the presence of metal chlorides (i.e., CsCl, ZnCl₂, and SnCl₂) at temperatures of 200, 225, and 250 °C for 12 h. SnCl₂ behaved very differently in the HTC process than the other catalysts (or no catalyst). A major difference among these catalysts was the extent to which they were incorporated within the hydrochar structure. SnCl₂ was much more readily incorporated than was CsCl or ZnCl₂. Carbon microspheres were observed in hydrochars from obtained biomass without a catalyst and with CsCl and ZnCl₂ catalysts; agglomerated carbon nanospheres were observed in hydrochars produced with SnCl₂. Hydrochars obtained at 225 and 250 °C by using SnCl₂ and ZnCl₂ catalysts were in the lignite class, while hydrochars obtained from biomass without a catalyst, and using CsCl, were in the peat coal class.

Relationship between the energy and the environment at the current stage of energy market development

The authors analyzed the current situation related to the global consumption of fossil fuels, as well as environmental problems caused by their extraction, production and consumption. The official statistical data were used, reflecting the volumes of export of fossil raw materials from the Russian Federation, the directions of raw materials flows, characterizing the demand for oil, gas, peat coal in international trade. The authors note that negative factors caused by currency fluctuations, pandemic and other factors did not lead to global changes in the fossil fuel market. The article presents the provisions of international documents adopted in order to prevent climate warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, attention is focused on distribution of responsibility between the developed and developing countries of the world. The authors analyzed the measures implemented in the territory of the Russian Federation, and identified positive trends to reduce emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere. Wherein, the article reflects the environmental risks associated with use of alternative energy sources and nuclear facilities, the assessment of which must be carried out during commissioning the corresponding facilities.

Hydrothermal carbonization of centrifuged sewage sludge: Determination of resource recovery from liquid fraction and thermal behaviour of hydrochar

Safe disposal of the sludge generated from sewage treatment plant is a major challenge worldwide. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is considered a potential pretreatment alternative for sewage sludge to facilitate the improved resource recovery. In the present study, the mixed centrifuged sewage sludge (CSS) was subjected to the HTC pretreatment to determine characteristics of the solid hydrochar (HC) and liquid fraction (LF) with a purpose of energy recovery and extraction of value-added compounds, respectively. HTC was performed in a high pressure batch reactor at 200 °C temperature for 1–8 h duration. The HC produced after HTC resembled with the low quality peat coal whereas the LF contained value-added chemicals such as humic acid (HA) and phosphate phosphorous (PO43—P). Using ammonium sulphate as ‘salting out’ agent, ~70% of the total HA (~15–16 g/L) could be recovered from the LF. Using the recovered HA, an improvement in the root and shoot lengths of the seeds could be observed. In the subsequent step, the total PO43−-P recovery of ~80% was obtained as struvite from the residual wastewater.

Realizing the Dead Sea Lakes Region in Rote Islands to be a geopark using multidisciplinary spatial information approach

Rote Ndao Regency is the southernmost region of Indonesia bordering Australia and Timor Leste. This regency has varieties of unique and endemic geology, biodiversity and inland waters. The regency has some 80 lakes where around 20 are saltwater lakes. The salinity of these lakes exceeds the salinity of seawater. The majority of these saltwater lakes are located in the Dead Sea Lake Region of Rote islands. Geologically, the islands have mixed deformations that move vertically and horizontally and are lifted partially from the Australian continent. The biodiversity in this region is also unique as there is a Roti snake-necked turtle that enters endangered animals. There are also unique mangroves conditions that live far from water sources due to vertical deformation. Rote Ndao also has areas of peat coal that are mixed with saltwater areas, freshwater areas, and brackish water areas. Remote sensing can be used to help effectively and efficiently in geological, biodiversity and inland waters mapping. This study aims to inform the related spatial information of the frontier region of Rote Ndao with the use of multidisciplinary remote sensing to realize Geopark. This multidisciplinary approach in remote sensing applications is used to obtain spatial information based on geo-biophysical and classification parameters. Data used in the form of ~ 65-70% remote sensing data and ~30-35% non-remote sensing data. Remote sensing data in the form of Landsat, Sentinel, WorldView-2, Planet, Grace, Goce, Champ, and others. This multidisciplinary approach includes remote sensing, geodesy, geology, limnology, biodiversity, water resources, forest conservation, and geo-informatics. The uniqueness of geology and biodiversity in the Dead Sea Lake Region of Rote is expected to make this region become a Geopark.

Nanometric particles of high economic value in coal fire region: Opportunities for social improvement

Spontaneous coal combustion in the La Guajira coals was studied for the presence of carbon nanophases (e.g., carbon nanotubes), occurrence of rare earth elements (REEs) in them, and the probable mechanisms for concentration of these rare compounds. For this purpose, various techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Field-emission SEM, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, and focused ion beam (FIB) were used. The development and alteration of the nanoparticles by geo-processes during the early modification periods of coal combustion were explored. Certain types of carbon nanophases and REE compounds may constitute nanominerals and ultra-fine particles accumulated in the coal peat. Assemblages of these nanophases (crystalline and amorphous compounds), predominantly the clay-monazite relationship and its connection to tonsteins in the coal combustion zones in the east region of the coal mines studied in this work, indicate that the coal area was subjected to REE concentration. The carbon nanophases contained several potential hazardous elements (PHEs), including, arsenic, bromine, cadmium, chlorine, fluorine, mercury, and other PHEs. While carbon nanotubes have been known to be produced from spontaneous combustion of coal of varying ranks, the present work is the first report on the naturally occurring REEs and carbon nanophases in the Colombian coal mining area.

Researching the simple solution of composting for the minimization of fecal coliform in sludge dredged from Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi - Vietnam

In Vietnam’s urban areas, lakes play a very important role in climate regulation as well as contributing to flood protection. In the capital city of Hanoi, there are currently 142 lakes. These lakes are dredged annually and the sludge should be treated. Two types of matter present in the sludge require treatment: coliform and fecal coliform. The aim of this research is to utilise the simple solution of composting for treating the sludge which is dredged from Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi. Results from analyzing the sludge showed its contents: carbon 72.3 mg/g DM, nitrogen 7.9 mg/g DM and phosphorus 2 mg/g DM. Therefore, we focused our research on adding high carbon content materials (such as straw, husk and peat coal) urea and phosphorus. The research also involves the additition of microorganism mixture Biomix, which includes Bacillus subtilis and Streptomyces in order to boost the composting process as well as to support the biological endeavor to reduce the coliform. The results show that the mixture containing 96% sludge, 3% rice straw and 1% compost mixed with the Biomix generated the best results. The time period of composting had effects on the density of fecal coliform.

Investigation of Energy Values in Tender Coconut by Various Methods

Even in 2017 many rural areas the daily food preparation works on conventional furnaces and peat coal as the fuel. It releases lot of smoke and harmful gases. The village blacksmith work also depends on peat coal. One of the alternative fuels for conventional furnace is tender coconut fuel. The tender coconut having lot of mineral values in addition to that it having lot of fuel values. The availability of tender coconut is round the year. In most of the cases these coconuts after drinking simply dumping in the municipal waste or dumping at out cuts of the cities. By making simple process we can convert this tender coconut into good fuel. A special machine designed for process of tender coconut. A detailed analysis done on the tender coconut in two different ways. The total coconut analysis is done two ways, one is on direct coconut where as other is individual elements of the coconut analysis like shell, inner coir, outer coir and coconut husk. The calorific value of each one calculated by using the bomb calorimeter. The exhaust gases also analyzed y using exhaust gas analyzer.

UTILIZATION OF SAR AND EARTH GRAVITY DATA FOR SUB BITUMINOUS COAL DETECTION

Remote sensing data can be used for geological and mining applications, such as coal detection. Coal consists of five classes of Anthracite, Bituminous, Sub-Bituminous, Lignite coal and Peat coal. In this study, the type of coal that is discussed is Sub bituminous, Lignite coal, and peat coal. This study aims to detect potential sub bituminous using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, and earth gravity. One type of remote sensing data to detect potential sub bituminous, lignite coal and peat coal are SAR data and satellite data Geodesy. SAR data used in this study is ALOS PALSAR. SAR data is used to predict the boundary between Lignite coal with Peat coal. The method used is backscattering. In addition to the SAR data is also used to make height model. The method used is interferometry. Geodetic satellite data is used to extract the value of the earth gravity and geodynamics. The method used is physical geodesy. Potential sub-bituminous coal can be known after the correlation between the predicted limits lignite coal-peat coal by the earth gravity, geodynamics, and height model. Volume predictions of potential sub bituminous can be known by calculating the volume using height model and transverse profile test. The results of this study useful for preliminary survey of geological in mining exploration activities.

Effects of water quality on the coagulation performances of humic acids irradiated with UV light

The presence of humic acid in drinking water treatment has received significant attention in recent years because of its adverse effects on the removal of many pollutants in coagulation. In this paper, the effects of water quality including pH, turbidity, alkalinity, and hardness on the removal of humic acid were investigated in a UV light hybridized coagulation process. Our results suggested that UV light radiation could effectively improve the removal rate of humic acid in coagulation under both neutral and basic conditions, and the variations of the selected water quality parameters had little adverse effect on the function of UV light. After UV light radiation, the removal rate of the nitro-humic acid (NHA) increased from 20% to 60% in coagulation, and increased further to 75% and 85% for the raw waters with 10.0 NTU kaolin and 100 mg·L−1 hardness, respectively. In addition to NHA, the removal rates of the humic acid extracted from peat coal (PHA) and the humic acid provided by Japan metals and chemicals company (JHA) in coagulation were also improved, both in the range of 80%–90% after undergoing UV light radiation. By changing the radiation location from prior to coagulation to the flocculation process, similar experimental results were obtained. The formation of positive charged sites after UV light radiation was considered to be the primary factor that led to an enhanced removal of the humic acid in coagulation.

The Influence of the Substrate on Striking Roots At

After a convincing presentation of Thuja Occidentalis Danica, as ornamental specie with useful economic implication, that can be multiplied on vegetative way through cuttings, the author, based on the conducted experiments, reach the conclusion that the substrate formed out of 50% perlite and 50% peat, ensures the striking of the roots of the cuttings, in a percentage of 89.3%. Thuja Occidentalis Danica is an ornamental tree with a globular port, a brown-reddish bark, compressed tendrils and flake shaped leaves grouped on 4 rows distributed oppositely. (Foucard, 1994). Semi-ligneous cuttings of Thuja Occidentalis Danica were collected at a length between 8-10 cm. The experience was organized in 4 variants: V1 – rooting in sand, V2 – rooting in perlite, V3 – rooting in peat coal, V4 – rooting in a substrate composed of 50% perlite and 50% peat coal. A number of 600 cuttings were used for each variant.

Stratigraphy and floristics of Eocene swamp forests from Axel Heiberg Island, Canadian Arctic Archipelago

A record of polar Eocene forests is preserved as in situ tree-stump fields and leaf-litter mats in Buchanan Lake Formation sediments on Axel Heiberg Island, in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Stratigraphic examination at the centimetre to metre scale of peat–coal lithology and macrofossil floristics in two levels of these fossil forests reflects small-scale changes in forest composition and swamp hydrology horizontally and temporal variation vertically. Root system structure and tree base stratigraphy suggest that exposed tree stumps may not include only coeval individuals of a single forest stand, but rather also individuals representing different phases of the forest through one cycle of the hydrological development of this Eocene polar forest community. Earlier calculations of stand density and biomass, based upon the assumption that all stumps represent coeval trees, may therefore be greatly overestimated. A mosaic of Alnus – fern bog, mixed coniferous community, and taxodiaceous (Metasequoia–Glyptostrobus) swamp appears to have produced both the leaf mats and the in situ stumps, with the taxodiaceous swamp the dominant peat-accumulating phase.

Delta plain coal deposits from the Than Formation of the Early Cretaceous Saurashtra basin, Gujarat, western India

The Than Formation of the Early Cretaceous Saurashtra basin consists of an interbedded assemblage of sandstone, claystone, carbonaceous shale, and coal facies. Small-scale crossbedded and laminated mudstone/siltstone (Sr/Lm) facies are considered to have formed by down-current migration of small-scale subaqueous bedforms and overbank deposits of distributary channels. The planar and trough crossbedded sandstone lithofacies (Sp, St) formed by migration of sand dunes and transverse bars in distributary channels. Laminated to ripple-laminated siltstone (F1) facies with or without coaly stringers, alternate with fine clastics, are suggestive of flood deposits and abandoned interchannel plain of delta distributaries. The muddy carbonaceous shale (Fm) facies represents deposition largely in low-lying interchannel plains and backswamps. Peat coal (Pc) facies are interpreted as in-situ deposits in quiet-water conditions of sedimentation across a lake. The integrated results of lithofacies, texture, and palaeocurrent analysis suggest that Than strata were deposited in a prograding major delta distributary complex in lower and upper delta plain environments.

Pirólise de turfa e análise do seu carvão

No presente trabalho, estudou-se o comportamento da turfa frente a pirólise, visando averiguar os efeitos da temperatura final, da taxa de aquecimento e do tempo de permanência na temperatura final no rendimento dos produtos sólidos (carvão), voláteis condensáveis e voláteis não-condensáveis e nas características do carvão obtido. Estas características foram densidade verdadeira, densidade aparente, porosidade, poder calorífico superior e os teores de matérias voláteis, de cinzas e de carbono fixo e também a taxa de redução granlométrica. Procedeu-se a pirólose em retorta elétrica de laboratório empregando as temperaturas de 300, 400, 600, 700, 800 e 900, às taxas de aquecimento de 1, 3 e 5°C/minto e tempo de permanência na temperatura final de 30 e 90 minutos. Pelos resultados observou-se que dos fatores testados na pirólise da turfa, a temperatura proporcionou maior efeito na variação dos rendimentos gravimétricos dos produtos e características analisadas no seu carvão. No geral, a turfa classificada acima de 10mm sofreu redução nessa granulometria à níveis de 40-45% após a pirólise. Quanto maior a temperatura final de pirólise, maior foi o rendimento em voláteis, a densidade verdadeira, a densidade aparente, o poder calorífico superior, o teor de cinzas e o teor de carbono fixo, enquanto foi menor o rendimento gravimétrico e o teor de matérias voláteis do carvão-turfa. A porosidade do carvão de turfa foi o parâmetro que apresentou-se menos influenciado pelos fatores testados. O poder calorífico foi correlacionado positivamente com a produção de voláteis durante a pirólise e com o teor de carbono fixo do carvão. A obtenção da turfa é viável com possibilidades múltiplas de aplicações, dadas as diferentes características obtidas.

Emissions from power plants fueled by peat, coal, natural gas and oil

Measurements were carried out to investigate the emissions of SO 2, NO x , fly ash, heavy metals, radioactive elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from one oil-fired, two coal-fired, five peat-fired and four natural gas-fired power plants or district heating plants. The emissions of sulphur dioxide depended mainly on the sulphur content of the fuel. In the combustion of oil, practically all the sulphur in the fuel reached the atmosphere as sulphur dioxide. When coal and peat were used as fuel, the amounts of sulphur retained in the ash were about 15 and 20%, of the original sulphur content, respectively. The SO 2 emissions from oil, coal, peat and natural gas were typically 1000, 600, 120, and < 10 mg MJ −1, respectively. The emissions of oxides of nitrogen depended on the nitrogen content of the fuel and also on the combustion temperature. The NO x emissions from plants burning oil, coal peat and natural gas were typically 100, 300, 160 and 100 mg MJ −1, respectively. The lowest emissions were measured in the small natural gas-fired district heating plants (20–30 mg NO x MJ −1). The emissions of fly ash and various elements depended mainly on the ash content of the fuel and on the efficiency of the dust collectors, which decreases sharply when the power plant output exceeds its nominal value. When the dust separation efficiency is 99% for coal- and peat-fueled power plants, and when there are no dust collectors in oil-fueled power plants, the typical fly ash emissions are 45, 20 and 25 mg MJ −1, respectively. Characteristic emissions of heavy metals and natural radioactive elements were greatest in the combustion of coal, with the exception of vanadium and nickel, of which the greatest emissions were from oil; the greatest emissions of 210Po were from peat. The PAH emissions of the different fuel-fired power plants were, with one exception, similar (2–10 μg MJ −1). Emissions from the circulating fluidized bed combustion of peat were about 10 times (40 μg MJ −1) those of the other methods of combustion.

Notes on the Dutch peat industry

Notes on the Dutch peat industry