Fuel from coal waste
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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At the South African University, a team of scientists developed fuel from waste, based on coal dust and algae. The development is called Coalgae and is inherently a waste product. Experts argue that the fuel produced in this way is environmentally friendly, in addition, cost-effective.
The lead author of the project was Ben Zili, he and his colleagues believe that Coalgae among all types of pure combustion fuel can be considered a unique product.
In the coal mining industry, approximately 30% of the production is lost in the form of dust, with an average of 55 tons of material deposited underground in the form of dust.
It should be noted that coal dust from an ecological point of view is extremely dangerous, first of all, together with production waste, a huge amount of harmful substances penetrates into the soil, and the formation of dust causes great economic damage.
If such a method of producing environmentally friendly fuel is widely used, then at least two problems can be solved, since coal dust is the main component of the new fuel.
Another component of the new fuel is algae, which are grown in artificial ponds. A new fuel is produced by mixing the concentrated algae and directly the waste of the coal mining industry, further pressing and drying takes place. From the received briquettes it is possible to obtain crude oil of high quality and combusted by 100% fuel (for this purpose briquettes are heated to 450 0 C without oxygen and burned without smoke).
In the future, oil can be processed in special enterprises, and fuel is suitable for the use of obtaining heat and energy.
According to the research group, if all countries start using coal waste to produce Coalgae, then it is possible not only to significantly reduce the penetration of harmful substances into the soil, but also to obtain economically and environmentally beneficial fuel to meet their own needs. As the researchers have calculated, only in South Africa this practice will allow obtaining the necessary amount of fuel to provide about 40% of its own needs (today crude oil is used).
Now researchers note first of all the use of Coalgae waste fuel for the environment. As for the cost of such fuel, the scientists are sure that it will be quite acceptable, given the high quality of the product.
Oil from dried briquettes does get quite high quality, Professor Zili noted that their oil resembles Texas low-sulfur oil, in which there are a lot of gasoline and hot components and at the price it will be closer to the Texas product, however, the relative stability and economic benefit.
Now, Professor Zili's team is testing its product to confirm production costs on an industrial scale, and as the researchers noted, all countries from America to China are already interested in scrap fuel.
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