Low-Rank Coal as a Source of Humic Substances for Soil Amendment and Fertility Management

Humic substances (HS), as important environmental components, are essential to soil health and agricultural sustainability. The usage of low-rank coal (LRC) for energy generation has declined considerably due to the growing popularity of renewable energy sources and gas. However, their potential as soil amendment aimed to maintain soil quality and productivity deserves more recognition. LRC, a highly heterogeneous material in nature, contains large quantities of HS and may effectively help to restore the physicochemical, biological, and ecological functionality of soil. Multiple emerging studies support the view that LRC and its derivatives can positively impact the soil microclimate, nutrient status, and organic matter turnover. Moreover, the phytotoxic effects of some pollutants can be reduced by subsequent LRC application. Broad geographical availability, relatively low cost, and good technical applicability of LRC offer the advantage of easy fulfilling soil amendment and conditioner requirements worldwide. This review analyzes and emphasizes the potential of LRC and its numerous forms/combinations for soil amelioration and crop production. A great benefit would be a systematic investment strategy implicating safe utilization and long-term application of LRC for sustainable agricultural production.

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Study on the Effects of Coal Blending on the Slurry Ability of Shenmu Coals

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.383-390.3011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 383-390 ◽

pp. 3011-3016 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jian Zhong Liu ◽

Yu Jie Yu ◽

Jun Hu Zhou ◽

Chong Du ◽

Lin Ye ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bituminous Coal ◽

Low Cost ◽

Low Rank ◽

Solid Concentration ◽

Practical Application ◽

Low Rank Coal ◽

Simple Operation ◽

Slurry Concentration ◽

Coal Blending ◽

Coal Water Slurry

Shenmu coals as low rank coal are difficult to prepare for Coal Water Slurry (CWS). The maximum slurry concentration of Shenmu CWS is lower than 60%, which is not available for practical application. Coal blending is a simple operation and low cost method to improve the slurry ability of low rank coal. Two different kinds of anthracite and bituminous coal samples were blended in Shenmu coal to study the effect on the preparation of CWS, respectively. The results showed that the maximum solid concentration of CWS increased as the proportion of high rank coal rise. And the viscosity of CWS is dropped at the same concentration. Different coals blending have different effects on the elevation of slurry ability for Shenmu coal. The raw coal with best slurry ability is not always the most suitable for blending in low rank coal. HuanNan bituminous coal is the best choice for blending in Shenmu coal. The maximum solid concentration of CWS can be increased by 6% when the proportion of HuanNan coal reached to 70%.

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Intensive dispersion technologies for extraction of humic substances from peat

Linnaeus Eco-Tech ◽

10.15626/eco-tech.2005.059 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 605-613

Author(s):

Janis Sire ◽

Maris Klavins

Keyword(s):

Humic Substances ◽

Metal Salts ◽

Low Rank ◽

Low Rank Coal

Humic substances are abundant in the environment and they can be isolated in preparativequantities from low rank coal, peat and soil. Traditionally for their isolation treatment withsolutions of Na OH, KOH or metal salts (K4P2O7) has been used. The aim of this article is toapply intensive extraction technologies for isolation ofhumic acids from peatUsed technologies provide opportunities to obtain peat humic substances with significantlyhigher yields and more rapidly than traditional boiling in alkalic solutions. During thetreatment peat fibers are subjected to major destruction.

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Remediation with Semicoke-Preparation, Characterization, and Adsorption Application

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma13194334 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (19) ◽

pp. 4334

Author(s):

George Lartey-Young ◽

Limin Ma

Keyword(s):

Circular Economy ◽

Industrial Waste ◽

Elemental Carbon ◽

Adsorption Mechanism ◽

Low Cost ◽

Ecological Integrity ◽

Low Rank ◽

Energy Industry ◽

Low Rank Coal ◽

Material Reuse

Development of low-cost contaminant sorbents from industrial waste is now an essential aspect of the circular economy since their disposal continues to threaten ecological integrity. Semicoke (SC), a by-product generated in large quantities and described as solid waste from gasification of low-rank coal (LRC), is gaining popularity in line with its reuse capacity in the energy industry but is less explored as a contaminant adsorbent despite its physical and elemental carbon properties. This paper summarizes recent information on SC, sources and production, adsorption mechanism of polluting contaminants, and summarizes regeneration methods capable of yielding sustainability for the material reuse.

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POTENTIAL APPLICATION OF LIGNITE AS ADSORBENTS IN INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT: A MINI REVIEW

Buletin Sumber Daya Geologi ◽

10.47599/bsdg.v10i2.141 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 46-53

Author(s):

Galuh Yuliani

Keyword(s):

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Industrial Wastewater ◽

Activated Carbons ◽

Low Cost ◽

Low Rank ◽

Low Grade ◽

Low Rank Coal ◽

Heating Value ◽

High Heating Value ◽

Potential Use

Low rank coal (or lignite) is a low grade, wet, low cost and highly abundant coal. The high moisture content of lignite limits its application as high-heating value fuel and also creates barrier for its export as fuel. However, this property should not necessarily hinder its use in the water industry. Similar to activated carbons, lignite has the theoretical ability to treat the wastewater by adsorbing contaminants from aqueous solution. This review paper highlights the potential use of lignite in wastewater treatment industry.

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INVESTIGATING A LINK BETWEEN LOW-RANK COAL BEARING CARRIZO-WILCOX AQUIFER WATER AND KIDNEY DISEASE IN EAST TEXAS

10.1130/abs/2018am-324830 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Jayeeta Chakraborty ◽

◽

Robert B. Finkelman ◽

William H. Orem ◽

Matthew S. Varonka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Kidney Disease ◽

Low Rank ◽

East Texas ◽

Low Rank Coal

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Microfacies and depositional environment of Tertiary Tanjung Enim low rank coal, South Sumatra Basin, Indonesia

International Journal of Coal Geology ◽

10.1016/j.coal.2004.07.004 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 61 (3-4) ◽

pp. 197-221 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Hendra Amijaya ◽

Ralf Littke

Keyword(s):

Depositional Environment ◽

Low Rank ◽

Low Rank Coal

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Surface Chemical Heterogeneity of Low Rank Coal Characterized by Micro-FTIR and Its Correlation with Hydrophobicity

Minerals ◽

10.3390/min11030239 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 239

Author(s):

Wei Wang ◽

Long Liang ◽

Yaoli Peng ◽

Maria Holuszko

Keyword(s):

Surface Chemistry ◽

Functional Group ◽

Group Composition ◽

Contact Angles ◽

Low Rank ◽

Surface Chemical ◽

Carbonyl Groups ◽

Low Rank Coal ◽

Different Types ◽

Aliphatic Carbon

Micro-Fourier transform infrared (micro-FTIR) spectroscopy was used to correlate the surface chemistry of low rank coal with hydrophobicity. Six square areas without mineral impurities on low rank coal surfaces were selected as testing areas. A specially-designed methodology was applied to conduct micro-FTIR measurements and contact angle tests on the same testing area. A series of semi-quantitative functional group ratios derived from micro-FTIR spectra were correlated with contact angles, and the determination coefficients of linear regression were calculated and compared in order to identify the structure of the functional group ratios. Finally, two semi-quantitative ratios composed of aliphatic carbon hydrogen, aromatic carbon hydrogen and two different types of carbonyl groups were proposed as indicators of low rank coal hydrophobicity. This work provided a rapid way to predict low rank coal hydrophobicity through its functional group composition and helped us understand the hydrophobicity heterogeneity of low rank coal from the perspective of its surface chemistry.

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