Emission of fine particulates and SO2 during coke making—a pilot plant study

Abstract

The coal-based industries in India are considered to be one of the chief industrial emitters of the particulate matter. The composition and size distribution of particles emitted by coal combustion sources depend upon various mechanisms leading to their formation. These emissions are having primary and secondary impact on the air, water and soil quality, which is leading to an adverse effect on the environment and the living beings. The North-Eastern Region (NER) of India is endowed with a good reserve of high sulphur coals, unevenly distributed in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. These coals have characteristics of high organic sulphur (75–90%), less oxygen, low ash, high volatile matter, mostly caking in nature with partly swelling propensities, low ash fusion temperature range, highly friable and perhydrous in nature generally with low slagging potentials. In present scenario, NER coals, particularly high sulphur caking coals of Assam and Meghalaya, are most widely used in coke-oven industries. In the present investigation, particulate matter (SPM, PM2.5 and PM10) and SO2 were collected from a non-recovery type of experimental coke-oven having a capacity of 100 kg/batch with Nagaland coals taken as feed stock. The properties of particulate matter are then studied including its mass, particle size distribution and elemental composition. Study showed that levels of SO2, PM2.5, PM10 and suspended particulate matter were higher than that of the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Standards. The study of these emissions using high sulphur coals will contribute to the national inventory for controlling pollution