Czech and Slovak young brown coals in environmental applications

In recent time, various kinds of young brown (low-rank) coals are utilized increasingly not only as fuels, but also as valuable materials in advanced environmental applications. It should be noted in this context that significant deposits of the young brown coals can be found both in the Czech Republic as well as in Slovakia. For their effective applications e.g. in wastewater treatment or in soil remediation, the properties of the coals should be studied in more details and numerous physico-chemical characteristics should be measured. As a part of a common Czech-Slovak project, a series of various kinds of coals was collected, including North-Bohemian oxihumolites, lignite from South Moravia and several lignites from Slovakia (Baňa Zahorie). Basic properties were measured, such as acid-base titration curves, contents of main functional groups and sorption capability towards heavy metal cations (Cu2+, Zn2+, Co2+) and some organic pollutants. The contents of humic substances – main active constituents of the young coals – were also determined. Selected environmental applications of the brown coals will be mentioned further, e.g. for the removal of metal cations from waters or in phytoremediation of contaminated soils.

Effect of Differently Matured Composts from Willow on Growth and Development of Lettuce

Soil amendments from peats, brown coals and composts produced from segregated biodegradable waste or biomass from fallow land can increase soil fertility and improve soil productivity. The aim of the study was to determine the possibility of using willow (Salix viminalis L.) biomass composts as a substrate component in horticulture. The objects of the research were composts produced from willow carried out in a pile under aerobic conditions. The addition of hay and mineral nitrogen (Nmin) was used to improve process efficiency. In order to verify the type and determine fertilizing value, basic chemical parameters were analyzed (pH, total contents of C, N and P) and a pot experiment was established to analyze the germination and growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Changes in pH, an increase in total nitrogen content (TN), phosphorus (TP) and a decrease in TOC was observed in the investigated samples. Results of the experiment showed that the highest yield was obtained from the pots with the mixture of willow, hay and Nmin. Matured composts significantly stimulated the germination and growth of the test plants. It can be concluded that the addition of hay and Nmin significantly improved composting process and increased the fertilizing value of the investigated composts.

Sorption of 137Cs and 90Sr on Organic Sorbents

The present study examines the sorption of Cs (I) and Sr (II) on organic sorbents in the pH range from 2 to 10, as well as the mechanisms of their binding. In order to determine the influence of the physical properties and the quantity of functional groups of the organic sorbents on sorption, experiments were carried out on organic materials of varying degrees of metamorphism: high-moor peat, hard and brown coals and shungite. A detailed description of their mineral composition, cation exchange capacity, buffering capacity and elemental composition of sorbents is provided. XRD, XRF, SEM and BET adsorption methods were used for assaying. As a result of the conducted research, it can be concluded that Sr (II) showed a higher sorption per unit specific surface area than Cs (I) in the studied range of concentrations and pH values. Sr (II) sorption decreases in the following order: high-moor peat > brown coal > shungite > hard coal. The sorption of Cs (I) is highest on brown coal and lesser for high-moor peat, shungite and hard coal. It is suggested that Cs (I) and Sr (II) can be fixed on carboxyl functional groups and Cs (I), possibly, in insignificant amounts on phenolic hydroxyls of all four studied organic sorbents.

RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF HUMIC SUBSTANCES OF PEAT AND BROWN COAL

Knowledge about structure and rheological peculiarities of drilling solutions and reagents applied for the proceeding of oil wells has significant value for the forecasting of oil wells drilling. The research results of the structure of the humic substances of peat and brown coals precipitated in different pH ranges from the standpoint of their ability to structure formation on the base of the rheological curves obtaining of the flow of their dispersions and determining of their rheological parameters in terms of their application in drilling practice are given in the article. It is established that during transition from fraction, beset into alkaline media (12.0–8.5) to fraction beset into acid media (5.0–2.0) the decrease of the rheological indicators of caustobiolate humic substance is occurred. Rheological curves of the flow of the disperse of caustobiolate humic substances of the fraction 1 and 2 are characterized for strong fossil structures, disperses of humic substances of the fraction 3 is for less strong coagulation structures. Less structured are humic substances of brown coal so that their use is preferable for the regulation of the structure and rheological peculiarities of drilling solutions.

Thermal Processing of Thermal Coal Under Pressure to Produce Semi-Coke and Thermal Energy

The process of thermal processing of brown coals of grades 1B and 2B under external overpressure of gases in the range of 0–4.0 MPa is investigated. The dependences of the main characteristics of the obtained products – semi-coke and combustible gas-on the pressure are established. The material and energy balances of the process of thermal processing of both coal grades are given