Byproducts of Coal Burning

Introduction to by products of coal burning

Coal is an extremely important fuel and will always remain so. About 23% of primary energy needs are met by coal and 39% of electricity generation takes place from coal. Nearly 70% of world steel production depends on coal feedstock. Coal is the world's most abundant and widely distributed fossil fuel source. The International Energy Agency expects a 43% increase in its use from 2000 to 2020.

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Coal burning produces many by products some of which are useful and others harmful as mentioned:

Carbon dioxide

Burning coal produces about 9 billion tones of carbon dioxide each year which is released to the atmosphere, about 70% of this being used for power generation.  The copious amounts of carbon dioxide that coal fired power stations push into the air – far greater amounts per unit of electrical energy than any other form of electrical generation. However, the coal pollution is not limited to carbon dioxide, which warms up our planet. There are other dangerous by products of coal burning.

Of course the actual types of by product depend on the nature and quality of the coal that is burnt, and its energy content


By products of coal burning : Nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide , Soot


Nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide

Most coal burning releases nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. Both chemicals make acid rain, which in turn is making the oceans more acidic. It is indicative of the energy companies’ attitude to pollution that although it has been possible to reduce the emissions of sulphur dioxide from coal by 90% for many years, it has taken a European Union Directive about air quality to force the installation of Flue Gas Desulphurisation at Aberthaw Power Station in South Wales.

Soot

All coal burning releases soot. Many people die from inhaling soot each year – the United Nations place the figure at 40,000.Hence, soot is very harmful to humans if taken in at large amounts.

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By products of coal burning : Ash and clinker , Mercury


Ash and clinker

All coal burning creates ash and clinker. The ash often contains traces of heavy metals such as cadmium, lead mercury and arsenic. The electricity generators simply dump the ash and clinker, burying it in landfill. The ash and clinker has about as much use as those slag heaps, now largely grassed over, that surrounded coal mines – both ugly and dangerous. It has no use, so it is dumped.

Mercury

Most coal burning release mercury into the atmosphere. Some species of fish are very good at absorbing mercury and that makes eating those species dangerous for the very young and for pregnant women, as I have explained elsewhere on these posts.

Of course in release these and other by products, the power station operators are simply trying to maximise their profits from power generation because environmentally friendly expenses stand in their way of profits. They sell their electricity to us, and virtually all of us are more interested in buying the product as cheaply as we can, regardless of the environmental consequences.