Page 56 - New Trends In Coal Conversion

24 New Trends in Coal Conversion

1.6 Environmental issues related to coal

According to Finkelman and Greb (2008), concerns about the impact of coal on the
environment and human health date back to its use as a fuel in China. Later, in the
13th century, concern about the “sulfurous air” in London attracted the attention of
the British royalty, who issued proclamations banning the use of coal in the city. Until
the industrialization, the amount of coal being used was not significant, and the envi-
ronmental and health problems were local. However, during the past 150 years,
increasingly large amounts of coal have been required to satisfy the ever-growing de-
mand for global energy, giving rise to a series of environmental issues.
Most of the activities related to coal such as mining, beneficiation and processing,
transport, and utilization have a significant impact on the natural environment and hu-
man health. Thus, although coal is still an important contributor to the economic and
social development of many countries, there is a strong need to minimize and reduce
the negative impacts associated with the processes in which coal is involved. The ef-
fects on the environment of coal transportation are usually minimal, but coal mining
and utilization are processes that have a serious negative impact on the environment
and human health.

1.6.1 Coal mining
Coal mining, both in surface or underground mines, has long been known to cause
highly visible environmental impacts. Greb et al. (2006) in their work on coal and
the environment have described some of the most significant impacts of mining coal
in the United States (which can be extended to other countries) as follows: (1) physical
disturbance of the landscape; (2) subsidence and settlement; (3) erosion, surface
runoff, flooding, and sediment control; (4) degradation of surface water and ground-
water quality; (5) coal mine fires (spontaneous combustion); (6) fugitive methane,
which, as well as being potentially explosive, is also a significant greenhouse gas;
(7) public safety and land disturbance issues; and (8) miners’ health and safety and po-
tential impacts on local biodiversity (wildlife and vegetation). In view of these dangers,
governments of the most industrialized countries have imposed increasingly harsh and
restrictive regimes to encourage the development of environmental planning before a
coal mine is exploited. This has resulted in changes in the methods of working, in the
type and utilization of equipment, and in coal preparation techniques to fulfill the reg-
ulations. However, in regions and countries where such regulations do not exist, these
issues are of a cause of continued concern.

1.6.2 Coal utilization

1.6.2.1 Coal combustion for power generation
The most important use of coal is as a feed fuel for combustion processes to generate
electric power and for heating and powering foundries, cement plants, and other indus-
trial and manufacturing facilities; and the largest environmental impact of combustion