Ultra-clean coal to fight climate change?
14 Mar 2006
London — Scientists at the University of Nottingham are developing a coal treatment process that could significantly cut carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power stations.
The process involves using chemicals to dissolve out corrosive minerals in the coal and so helps protect the turbines in the power plants. Hydrofluoric acid is the main chemical being tested.
Technology currently exists for burning coal in clean, efficient manner that reduces carbon dioxide emissions. However, problems with cleaning the coal before it is burnt have made generating electricity in this way very expensive.
The Nottingham team aims to resolve this issue by cutting unwanted minerals in coal from around 10% to below 0.05% — making the fuel 'ultra clean', said the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, which is providing funding for the project.
The chemicals are regenerated for re-use, which avoids the expense of using fresh chemicals each time, as well as the need to dispose of them, according to an EPSRC statement.
“A lot of research took place in the 1970s and 1980s to see if coal-cleaning was viable. The conclusion was that it was too expensive,” explains project leader Dr Karen Steel of the School of Chemical, Environmental and Mining Engineering at Nottingham University.
"With the environment high on the global agenda and coal certain to remain a key energy source for decades, it makes sense to see if the perception is still justified today. If it proves technically viable and economically competitive, the new process could help ensure that world coal reserves are harnessed with less impact on climate change," commented Steel.