Chemical characteristics and trace element concentration of non coking coals from Talcher Coal Fields, Orissa, India

Abstract

The present study investigates the details on the aspects of Coal quality such as proximate, ultimate, calorific value and trace element concentration and its impact on human health. Trace elements are present in very low percentage in coal but their concentration increases manifold after coal combustion and utilization. Throughout the process of coal production as well  as  consumption,  trace elements  are released  from  coal.  Their  release  into  the surrounding atmosphere largely depends on the nature of their association with coal, also known as, their modes of occurrence. A number of samples have been collected by using Channel Sampling method from different locations of Talcher coalfield. The statistical analysis of trace elements has also been computed. The coal of the study region has moderate moisture content (2.9% to 7.6%, average 5.04%), volatile matter (19% to 24%, average 21.57%), fixed carbon content (16.6% to 27.5%, average 21.3%) and ash content (42.7% to 61.5%, average 51.86%). It has been observed that most of the trace elements in coal have higher concentration as compared with the World and USA values. The matrix correlation coefficient of ash indicates that iron and sodium show positive correlation, hence it can be regarded to have inorganic association. It gives a better knowledge of coal quality characteristics which may help to reduce some of the health problems caused by the trace elements.

Keywords: Trace elements, Coal Characteristics, Proximate Analysis, Ultimate Analysis