Dose–response relationship between urinary PAH metabolites and blood viscosity among coke oven workers: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been proven to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in coke oven workers, and increased plasma viscosity is a signal for higher risk of catching up cardiovascular disease. We want to explore whether the plasma viscosity is affected by the concentration of PAHs.DesignOur study is a cross-sectional dose–response study.SettingParticipants in this study came from a coke plant in Taiyuan, Shanxi.ParticipantsWe used data of 693 coke oven workers in Taiyuan.Primary and secondary outcome measuresWe assumed that plasma viscosity would increase as the concentration of PAHs metabolites in urine increases. We found that 2-hydroxyfluorene (OHFLU2) and plasma viscosity have a stable linear relationship in different statistical methods.ResultsWe found that plasma viscosity increased by 1.14 (mPa.s,30/s) for each ng/mL of 2-OHFLU urinary (correlation coefficient range: 0.54–1.74, p<0.05).ConclusionsThe results of this study could provide evidence for coke oven workers to prevent cardiovascular disease by checking whether plasma viscosity is elevated.

Development of rational technological parameters for heating of a coke battery with a stamped charging of coals.

DEVELOPMENT OF RATIONAL TECHNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS FOR HEATING OF A COKE BATTERY WITH A STAMPED CHARGING OF COALS © V.I. Goncharov, I.I. Sikan, Ya.I. Dyachuk, N.V. Mukina (Coke production of PJSC «ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih», 50095, Dnipropetrovsk region, Kryvyi Rih, Kryvorizhstal str., 1, Ukraine), I.V. Shulga, PhD in technical sciences (State Enterprise "Ukrainian State Research Coal Chemical Institute (UHIN)", 61023, Kharkov, Vesnina st., 7, Ukraine) The article is devoted to the introduction at the PJSC «ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih» coke plant of a promising technology for compaction of a coal charge, which allows obtaining blast furnace coke of high mechanical and "hot" strength from charges characterized by an increased content of lean components of various stages of metamorphism. Under the present circumstances, this is of great importance for increasing the economic indicators of the production of blast furnace coke and the operation of blast furnaces. The start-up of coke oven battery No. 6, designed for the application of this technology, necessitated the determination of rational technological parameters of heating: the temperature level in the control verticals and the location of the burners for supplying coke oven gas in the vertical along the heating wall. The article presents the calculations, the results of which confirm the expediency of rationalizing the actual starting (design) distribution of burners on coke oven battery No. 6. First of all, attention is drawn to the insufficient diameters of the holes in the burners for the extreme and pre-extreme verticals. This, according to the authors, caused underheating of the head zones and resin spills, which were observed during start-up operations on the battery. The replacement of burners at the edges of the walls by large diameters, carried out by the personnel of the coke shop of the coke plant PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih” and LLC “Koksokhimstanciya”, combined with the full opening of the recirculation windows in these zones, improved the heating of the charge and significantly reduced the intensity of spills. The experience gained was taken into account when locating the control devices at coke oven battery No. 5, which was put into operation later. The article also formulates recommendations for adjusting the temperature regime of coking, depending on the grade and component composition, as well as the technological properties of coal charges. Keywords: coke oven battery, stumping of coal charge, temperature in control verticals, location of burners along the length of the heating wall. Corresponding author Ya.I. Dyachuk, е-mail: [email protected]

Comparative characterization of cyanide-containing steel industrial wastewater

In the steel industry, cyanide in the wastewater is a major environmental concern. There are several chemical, physical, and biological treatment processes available for the removal of cyanide from industrial wastewater. But the efficacy of every treatment process depends on the complex elemental matrix of wastewater and the interference associated with them. Thus, water characterization plays a vital part in finding a suitable cyanide treatment process for any wastewater. Characterization data can give a clear overview of the complexity of cyanide in the wastewater, which ultimately helps in selecting the right remediation process. The present work includes comparative characterization of coke plant and blast furnace wastewater collected from an integrated steel plant. Three months of data for physico-chemical properties of the two different sources were analysed and compared. Pearson's correlation analysis of physico-chemical properties with free cyanide was also studied. The different forms of cyanide in coke plant and blast furnace water were also characterised, along with interference associated with them. It was observed that the water matrix of coke plant and blast furnace effluents are totally different. It was also evident that free cyanide concentration is much more affected in coke plant wastewater than in blast furnace water.

A Predictive Model for Coal Coking Based on Product Yield and Energy Balance

A series of experimental coal pyrolysis studies were conducted to define the parameters of a kinetic model to enable complete mass and energy balances by identifying basic process products. The developed model determines the chemical enthalpy of pyrolytic reactions, making it possible to determine the share of exothermic conversions in the coking process. To validate the model, a series of experimental pyrolysis tests of coking coals used in the coke plant and their blends were conducted, including TGA, retort, and industrial coke oven scale. Despite significant differences in the chemical composition of various coal types, element balancing allowed detection of the difference in product composition and the heat effects of the chemical conversion of such a complex substance as coal. Analysis of the heat effects of pyrolytic coal decomposition indicates substantial variability. In the first coking period, there are endothermic reactions; in the second, exothermic reactions occur. Average heat effect of the pyrolytic reaction for whole coking period is exothermic and, depending on the coal type, ranges from −5 to −50 kJ/kg. The model herein can be used to analyze many other pyrolytic processes because it also takes into account the heating rate.