Anthracite, characteristics

Granular media filtration is used for treating aqueous waste streams. The filter media consists of a bed of granular particles (typically sand or sand with anthracite or coal). The anthracite has adsorptive characteristics and hence can be beneficial in removing some biological and chemical contaminants in the wastewater. This material may also be substituted for activated charcoal. 

In on effort to establish the mechanism of coal flotation and thus establish the basis for an anthracite lithotype separation, some physical and chemical parameters for anthracite lithotype differentiation were determined. The electrokinetic properties were determined by streaming potential methods. Results indicated a difference in the characteristics of the lithotypes. Other physical and chemical analyses of the lithotypes were mode to establish parameters for further differentiation. Electron-microprobe x-ray, x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescent, infrared, and density analyses were made. Chemical analyses included proximate, ultimate, and sulfur measurements. The classification system used was a modification of the Stopes system for classifying lithotypes for humic coals. 

From the foregoing it is evident that the lithotypes of anthracite are different. Differences in adsorption characteristics, surface structure, physical properties, and chemical composition conclusively demonstrate that the anthracite lithotypes are unalike and are distinct entities. It is also evident that to interpret research results of anthracite coals correctly, a petrographic knowledge of the coal is necessary. Anthracite cannot be regarded as a homogeneous substance. 

Mr. Campbell Anthracite lithotypes were investigated for their electro-kinetic characteristics to establish a basis for separation, utilizing froth flotation methods. The electrokinetic characteristics of macerals were not investigated. However, results from the lithotype work does imply that macerals have different electrokinetic characteristics. I believe electrophoretic methods could be used effectively to separate macerals for laboratory purposes. 

The distinguishing characteristic of the scattering curves for the anthracites is the outer part of the scattering curve, where the intensity is usually higher than for the lower-rank coals, and, though sometimes nearly constant, usually decreases smoothly. 

Bituminous and sub-bituminous coals account for the major share of all coal produced in the United States. In 2000, production of all types of coal totaled almost 1.1 billion short tons, of which about 95 percent was bituminous or sub-bituminous (Fig. 19.1). Despite its clean burning characteristics, anthracite, most of which is mined in northeastern Pennsylvania, accounts for a diminishing share of total coal production. Figure 19.2 presents data on coal consumption in the United States. 

The burning rate of chars at a pressure of 1 atm for petroleum coke and the different coal rank has been compared by Sergeant and Smith [27]. The collected experimental data show that the char burning rates expressed in (kg m- s ) is slightly lower for the same particle temperature, for petroleum coke against anthracite however the behavior of both coke residue (petroleum coke) and char (anthracite) is similar. The burning profile technique is a method for predicting the relative combustion characteristics of fuels. 

Anthracites could be considered an exception to this generalization because the presence of an intense background absorption which has to be regarded as a key feature.) On the basis of this similarity we would intuitively expect only minor variations in the values of the extinction coefficients of the characteristic C-H group frequencies. We suggest that the observed variation could be due to the procedures used to make most measurements. For example, Retcofsky (38) and Durie, et al. 

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