Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Coral samples'

The reefs off Broward County exist as three shore-parallel, sequentially deeper terraces named the "inner", "middle", and "outer" reefs and also a shallower, nearshore ridge complex. These structures span the continental coast of southeast Florida from Palm Beach County to southern Miami-Dade County and were characterized as relict, early Holocene shelf-edge and mid-shelf reefs along with limestone ridges. Presently, the reefs are colonized by a fauna characteristic of West Atlantic/Caribbean reef systems. Scleractinian coral cover is low except for a few dense patches of Acropora cervicornis, while Acropora palmata is absent except for a few individual living colonies. Coral reef core-drilling is a useful analytical tool to extract observable and datable geological samples from within reefs. This technique was employed to retrieve 4 cores from the inner reef off Broward County to better understand its age, composition, and Holocene growth history. Sub-samples from corals in cores provided 7 new radiocarbon ages ranging from 7,860-5,560 cal BP, and reef accumulation rates of l.7-2.45 m/1,000 yrs were calculated from these ages. In addition, coral species composition and taphonomic characteristics were analyzed to identify former reef environments/reef zonation, and signals for inner reef termination. Reef zonation was detectable but no clear taphonomic signal for inner reef termination was evident. Current data and radiocarbon ages from all three Broward County reefs suggest that the outer reef accumulated from ~10.6-8 ka cal BP, the middle reef from at least ~5.8-3.7 ka cal BP, and the inner reef from ~7.8-5.5 ka cal BP. A lack of significant age overlaps between the three reefs has led to the assertion that they represent backstepping reefs in response to Holocene sea-level rise. This study has provided the oldest and youngest ages from the inner reef thus far, and confirms that reef backstepping from the outer reef to the inner reef occurred within just a few hundred years after the termination of the outer reef. The middle reef remains poorly understood and thus a definitive Holocene growth history and ultimately an understanding of their formation are still largely unknown.

Arsenic and selenium distributions in coal-fired plant samples are studied. This research includes arsenic and selenium concentrations in samples of coal, fly ash, bottom ash, economizer ash, Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) slurry and flue gas taken from four power plants with the goal being to examine the distribution of these metals in these materials and calculate a materials balance for the system. All samples were analyzed using ICP-ES. This research shows that 60-80% of the arsenic in coal-fired plant samples will be associated with the fly ash. Approximately 35-55% of the selenium will be associated with the fly ash and approximately 30-40% will be associated with the FGD slurry materials. The amount of arsenic and selenium present in the flue gases escaping the stack is very little, 6-7% or less. Hopefully, research in this area will be helpful when setting emissions limits, identifying and disposing of hazardous wastes and improving air pollution control devices for maximum metal removal.

Traditionally, coal combustion residuals (CCRs) were disposed of with little engineering consideration. Initially, common practice was to use a wet-scrubbing system to cut down on emissions of fly ash from the combustion facilities, where the ash materials were sluiced to the disposal facility and allowed to sediment out, forming deep deposits of meta-stable ash. As the life of the disposal facility progressed, new phases of the impoundment were constructed, often using the upstream method. One such facility experienced a massive slope stability failure on December 22, 2008 in Kingston, Tennessee, releasing millions of cubic yards of impounded ash material into the Watts Bar reservoir and damaging surrounding property. This failure led to the call for new federal regulations on CCR disposal areas and led coal burning facilities to seek out geotechnical consultants to review and help in the future design of their disposal facilities. CCRs are not a natural soil, nor a material that many geotechnical engineers deal with on a regular basis, so this thesis focuses on compiling engineering characteristics of CCRs determined by different researchers, while also reviewing current engineering practice when dealing with CCR disposal facilities. Since the majority of coal-burning facilities used the sluicing method to dispose of CCRs at one point, many times it is desirable to construct new "dry-disposal" phases above the retired ash impoundments; since in-situ sampling of CCRs is difficult and likely produces highly disturbed samples, a sample reconstitution technique is also presented for use in triaxial testing of surface impounded CCRs.
Master of Science

Les octocoralliaires vivant en symbiose avec des dinoflagellés photosynthétiques représentent l’un des principaux groupes benthiques des récifs coralliens tropicaux. Ils sont notamment abondants au sein des écosystèmes perturbés où les changements environnementaux entraînent le déclin des coraux scléractiniaires. Bien que la nutrition joue un rôle fondamental dans la régulation de l’abondance d’une population, l’acquisition de nutriments par les octocoralliaires reste à ce jour méconnue. Les objectifs de cette thèse étaient de caractériser la nutrition autotrophe et hétérotrophe des espèces d’octocoralliaires de mer Rouge, depuis la surface jusqu’à la zone mésophotique supérieure. Les résultats démontrent que par rapport aux scléractiniaires, la fixation de carbone autotrophe chez les octocoralliaires est plus faible en surface, mais équivalente en profondeur. De plus, l’assimilation de composés azotés dissous est bien inférieure chez les octocoralliaires, en comparaison avec les scléractiniaires. Ces résultats suggèrent que les octocoralliaires dépendent largement de sources alimentaires hétérotrophes pour satisfaire leurs besoins nutritionnels. Une telle mixotrophie leur confère une grande plasticité trophique, ce qui pourrait contribuer à une plus grande résistance aux changements environnementaux en cours
Octocorals living in symbiosis with photosynthetic dinoflagellates are one of the major benthic groups of tropical coral reefs. They are notably abundant within disturbed ecosystems where environmental changes have led to the decline of reef-building corals. Although nutrition plays a fundamental role in regulating the abundance of a population, the acquisition of nutrients by octocorals has received little attention to date. The aims of this thesis were to characterize the acquisition and assimilation of autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrients by octocoral species from the Red Sea, from the shallow down to the upper mesophotic zone. The results show that the autotrophic carbon fixation in octocorals is lower at shallow depth compared to scleractinians, but equivalent at mesophotic depths. In addition, the assimilation of dissolved nitrogen compounds is lower in octocorals than in scleractinian corals. These results suggest that octocorals strongly depend on heterotrophic food sources to meet their nutritional requirements. Such mixotrophy provides octocorals with a wide trophic plasticity, which may contribute to their higher resistance to cope with already on-going environmental changes

A series of experiments were conducted to invesdgate high pressure water jet assisted coal cutting. The research was sponsored by British Coal and carried out in the Department of Mining Engineering at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Two coals were tested: a black, coherent, anthracite; and a heavily cleated, friable, dull coloured bituminous coal. The tests modelled as closely as possible a vane pick on a two start shearer drum. The experiment was performed on a modified 50 tonne linear cutting rig at a speed of I. Im/s, using jet pressures of 35MPa, 70MPa, and 105MPa at different flow rates. A 75kW double acting intensifier type pump supplied the high pressure water for the jet. A relieved cutting mode was adopted with a line spacing of 70mm, and a 30mm nominal depth of cut. An actual production cutting tool (heavy duty 75mm radial with a HW tip) cut the coal in both the sharp and blunt states. Additional tests were also performed by pre-slotting the coal with a water jet before cutting it and by examining the effect of varying the lead and offset distances on the parameters measured below. Parameters measured were the cutting forces in three orthogonal directions; the breakout patterns; and the coal size distribution. The coal yields and specific energies were calculated from the experimental data. Both coals achieved benefit from jet assistance but at different pressures depending upon the coal type and tool wear. The breakout pattern differed between the two coals but generally fracture occurred along the major cleat planes. Both coals were easier to cut when the major cleat was orientated in the horizontal plane rather than in the vertical plane. Specific energy increased linearly with jet power. In most cases the quantity of fine coal (-0.5mm) produced decreased with jet assistance.

Recent concerns over declining landfill space and a renewed interest in waste-to-energy technologies have increased the possibilities of co-firing different types of fuels in fluidized bed combustion systems. Fluidized bed combustion systems are idea for co-firing because of their ease in heat conversion and ability to burn a wide range of fuels. Additionally, thermal analytical techniques can be used to screen fuel blends for the fluidized bed combustion systems at a lower cost than directly firing the fuel blends in pilot systems. Three coals, three different municipal solid wastes (MSW), one limestone were combined into nine series of binary fuel mixtures to determine the possible Observed/Theoretical ratios caused by the MSW and /or the limestone to the coal’s combustion profile. After doing so, optimum percentage combinations were determined that should combust efficiently in fluidized bed systems. Consequently, after the combinations were optimized, evolved gas analysis showed a possible 50% reduction in SO2 emission through absorption by limestone.

Concerns over declining landfill space and a renewed interest in waste-toenergy technologies have increased the possibilities of co-firing different types of fuels in atmospheric fluidized bed combustion systems. The laboratory sized atmospheric fluidized bed combustor (AFBC) at Western Kentucky University was designed to serve as a highly flexible research and development facility to gain operating experience, evaluate combustion performance, and estimate the effect of flue gas emissions on the atmosphere. The operating conditions for the AFBC system are similar to those used at the TVA 160-MW AFBC Pilot Plant located near Paducah, Kentucky. AFBC systems are ideal for co-firing because of their ease in heat conversion and ability to burn a wide range of fuels. GC/FTIR/IC techniques can be used to characterize the combustion of fuel blends by evolved gas analysis. This analysis can be used to determine the best combination of fuels.

Respirable coal mine dust (RCMD) has long been recognized as an occupational health hazard. In addition to coal, RCMD can contain minerals such as crystalline silica (i.e., most often present as quartz). There has been a resurgence of lung diseases among US coal miners since the late-1990s which has emphasized the need for better quartz monitoring, and better dust characterization in general. Quartz monitoring in coal mines has traditionally used infrared (IR) spectroscopy-based analytical methods such as the MSHA Method P7 that require significant sample preparation and must be performed in a centralized lab. There are generally thus days to weeks between dust sample collection and reporting of results, which can prevent the prompt mitigation efforts to better control dust and reduce exposures. Recently, a rapid analysis method for quartz has been developed by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) using direct-on-filter (DOF) Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The method has been demonstrated in a number of NIOSH-led studies using both laboratory and field samples, and the results show very good accuracy relative to the Method P7 reference. However, it has heretofore not been widely used by others or compared to results from other non-IR analytical methods. Moreover, while FTIR can allow the measurement of additional analytes, this has not yet been a focus of DOF FTIR for RCMD analysis. Analytes such as kaolinite and calcite could be of particular interest in the context of RCMD source apportionment. In this thesis, the DOF FTIR method is used to estimate silica, kaolinite, and calcite mineral fraction in RCMD samples collected in 16 coal mines, and in the laboratory using dust source materials from those same mines. The results are compared to results from other dust characterization methods such as mass-based thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and particle-based scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). Results indicate the usefulness of the DOF FTIR method, and comparison suggests the presence of significant non-carbonate minerals other than silica and kaolinite in the coal mine dust. The results also show that SEM-EDX frequently indicates more mineral content (primarily other aluminosilicates), than that is predicted by either FTIR or the TGA. Additionally, by focusing mainly on calcite (generally sourced from limestone-based rock dust used in coal mines to prevent coal dust explosion), the second part of this study explores basic source apportionment by analyzing mine samples and samples of major dust source materials (such as run-of-mine coal, rock strata, and rock dust products). Results show that calcite can serve as a suitable proxy for rock dust in coal mine dust, and the results are consistent with expectations surrounding the contribution of dust from different mine locations and sample sources. Additionally, the DOF FTIR also showed good agreement with the TGA and SEM-EDX.
Master of Science
Respirable dust generated in coal mines has long been recognized as an occupational health hazard. In addition to coal, coal mine dust can contain minerals such as crystalline silica, which is particularly hazardous. Since the mid-1990s, there has been an alarming and unexpected increase in lung diseases in coal miners. Respirable crystalline silica is assumed to be a likely causal factor for this resurgence of lung diseases, and this has emphasized the need for better respirable crystalline silica monitoring and to better understand coal mine dust composition. The standard method of measurement of silica (called the MSHA Method P7) generally takes days to weeks between dust sample collection and reporting of results, which can prevent the mine from taking prompt mitigative efforts to better control dust and reduce exposures. Recently, a rapid analysis method for silica has been developed by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) called the DOF FTIR (direct-on-filter Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy). This method has been shown to have very good accuracy relative to the standard method (MSHA P7). However, it has heretofore not been widely used by others or compared to results from other analytical methods. Moreover, DOF FTIR can also be used to estimate other minerals of interest such as kaolinite and calcite, which can be important in the context of understanding coal mine dust sources. In this thesis, the DOF FTIR method is used to estimate silica, kaolinite, and calcite mineral fraction in coal mine dust samples collected in 16 coal mines, and in the laboratory using dust source materials from those same mines. The results are compared to results from other dust analysis methods such as mass-based TGA (thermogravimetric analysis) and particle-based SEM-EDX (scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray). Results indicate the usefulness of the DOF FTIR method, and comparison suggests the presence of significant non-carbonate minerals other than silica and kaolinite in the coal mine dust. The results also show that SEM-EDX frequently indicates more mineral content than that is predicted by either FTIR or the TGA. Additionally, by focusing mainly on calcite—which is generally sourced from limestone-based rock dust used in coal mines to prevent coal dust explosion—the second part of this study explores the sources of the dust by analysing samples collected in mines, and samples generated in lab from major dust source materials (such as the raw coal, rock strata, and rock dust products obtained from the mines). Results show that calcite can be representative of rock dust in coal mine dust, and the results are consistent with expectations surrounding the contribution of dust from different mine locations and sample sources. Additionally, the DOF FTIR also showed good agreement with the TGA and SEM-EDX.

Magnetic susceptibility is a property that can be used to effectively determine the compositional changes of mineral materials in soil. The objective of this study is to detect the presence of magnetic particles related to the migration of fly ash from a nearby coal-burning power plant over parts of Pointe Coupee Parish, LA. This is based on the idea that the fly ash that is released into the atmosphere during the coal burning process contains heavy metals and magnetic particles in the form of ferrospheres, which can be used to trace back to the source. Maps of the top and sub soil were generated to differentiate the magnetic susceptibility values of the heavy metals potentially attributed to the migration and settling of fly ash onto the surface from any pre-existing or naturally occurring heavy metals in the sub soil. A 60 km² area in Pointe Coupee Parish was investigated in approximately 0.5 km² subsets.

At each site, a minimum of 20 magnetic susceptibility measurements were obtained using a field probe along with discrete surface and subsurface samples collected for subsequent laboratory analysis. Samples of fly ash obtained directly from the source were also analyzed to verify the field and laboratory analysis. Contour maps representing the spatial distribution of the fly ash along with histograms of magnetic susceptibility values, reflective light microscope, and chemical analysis indicate a correlation between the proximity to the power plant and the predominant wind direction. Acquisition curves of the isothermal remanent magnetization demonstrate the presence of predominantly low coercivity minerals (magnetite) with a small amount of a high-coercivity phase. The microstructure of the magnetic fractions of the fly ash along with select top and sub soil samples were observed using a reflective light microscope for identifying and confirming the presence of ferrospheres associated with fly ash.

ABSTRACT MONITORING AND STATISTICAL MODELLING OF DUST CONCENTRATION OF SOME TURKISH LIGNITES UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS Karakas, Ahmet Ph.D., Department of Mining Engineering Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tevfik Gü
yagü
ler September 2010, 171 pages Although technological developments enable maximum safety, high dust formation is still a crucial problem in coal mining sector. This study is aimed to investigate the relationship between amount of coal dust produced during cutting operation and some important coal properties together with cutting parameters for different particle size ranges in laboratory conditions. For this purpose, six Turkish lignite samples were used in the experiments. Two experiment sets were designed to generate coal dust by using cutting action of the saw. First group of experiments were conducted in large scale saw system by using saws having three different diameters and dust concentration measurements were done for three group of particle size namely: 0-2.5 &mu
m, 0-5 &mu
m and 0-10 &mu
m. Second group of experiments were done in small scale saw system by changing the table advancing speed and tip speed of the system. For this group of experiments, only one type of lignite samples were used. These measurements were carried out only 0-10 &mu
m particle size range by using a saw with 30 cm in diamater. In this study, to characterize the lignite samples
proximate, petrographic and grindability analysis (HGI) were made. During the experiments, dust concentrations were measured by using Microdust Pro real time dust monitoring equipment. At the end of the study, the relationship between coal dust concentration and some coal properties and cutting operating parameters were expressed by using four different regression equations. Also it has been found that tip speed of saw, fixed carbon, ash and huminite content, vitrinite reflectance and hardgrove grindability index are very important parameters in coal dust generation. Keywords: Respirable Coal Dust, Dust Generation, Real Time Dust Sampler, Coal Dust Diseases, Coal Cutting Operation.

The water and coal samples from the Manisa-Soma-DeniS region were studied on the basis of their basic characteristics, inorganic and organic parameters. Coal samples were determined as low-quality lignite. They have high concentrations of arsenic, uranium and lead. The organics in the coal samples are of aliphatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives (alkanes and alcohols), methyls, phthalates, naphtalenes and benzenes. They are inactive and low in concentrations. Water samples have basic characteristics within the range of drinking waters. They also have high arsenic and uranium concentrations indicating a possible leaching. Their organic compounds are similar to those in the coal samples. However, these organic compounds are not as toxic as those found in endemic samples and their concentration is also very low. Therefore, they are considered not to be a potential for Balkan Endemic Nephropathy (BEN)-disease. On the basis of the findings of this study, the area can be concluded as non-endemic region.

O solo é um compartimento ambiental altamente complexo e, em razão do crescimento populacional acelerado e da intensa atividade industrial e agrícola, tem sofrido com a contaminação de substâncias de origens diversas. Entre as principais atividades que contribuem para a perturbação da qualidade dos solos estão as atividades de geração de energia pela queima de combustíveis fósseis, como o carvão mineral. Dentre as substâncias presentes nos rejeitos do carvão queimado em usinas termelétricas estão compostos orgânicos e metais pesados que interagem com o material genético, produzindo mutações e acarretando prejuízos em nível de organismo (como as neoplasias), mas também em níveis maiores de organização biológica (como a perda de diversidade genética em populações). Estudos de avaliação do potencial mutagênico em amostras de solo são escassos, principalmente investigando a ação de mutágenos de origem inorgânica. Além disso, estudos de mutagênese em solos sob a influência de rejeitos de carvão têm sido pouco abordados na literatura. Desta forma, os objetivos deste trabalho foram: (i) testar um protocolo para avaliação de atividade mutagênica em extratos inorgânicos e orgânicos de solo; (ii) avaliar a presença e o perfil dos compostos mutagênicos em solos sob a influência de cinzas de carvão e (iii) investigar as rotas ambientais para dispersão dos compostos mutagênicos na área de estudo. Para atingir estes objetivos, processos de extração de compostos orgânicos e inorgânicos de solo foram testados quanto a sua eficiência em extrair da amostra compostos potencialmente mutagênicos frente a linhagem de Salmonella typhimurium que detecta erro no quadro de leitura (TA98). Os protocolos mais eficientes foram utilizados para os testes com diferentes amostras de solo sob a influência de rejeitos de carvão utilizando diversas linhagens, na ausência e presença de ativação metabólica (fração S9 mix). Os resultados de mutagênese associados aos resultados da caracterização química de compostos orgânicos e metais indicaram que os contaminantes presentes nas cinzas de carvão podem se dispersar com facilidade para áreas adjacentes. Essa abordagem de estudo permitiu relacionar a presença de determinadas classes de compostos com diferentes danos no DNA e inferir distintas rotas ambientais de dispersão para esses compostos. A realização deste trabalho ressalta a importância de estudos em matrizes ambientais complexas, em especial solos contaminados, que buscam integrar os dados de mutagênese e utilizá-los sob uma perspectiva ecológica.
Soil is a highly complex environmental compartment that has suffered contamination by substances from multiple sources mainly due to fast population growth and intense industrial and agricultural activity. Among the main activities that affect soil quality are power generation activities that use fossil fuels, such as mineral coal. Among the several compounds present in coal ashes that are employed in coal-fired power plants are substances that interact with the genetic material, causing mutations and/or damage at the individual level (like neoplasias) but also at higher levels of biological organization (like loss of genetic diversity in populations). There are few studies on the mutagenic potential of soil samples, especially those that investigate the action of mutagens from inorganic sources. Moreover, studies of mutagenesis in soils under the influence of coal-fired power plants have rarely been reported in literature. Thus, this work aimed at: (i) testing a protocol for the evaluation of mutagenic activity in inorganic and organic extracts from soil samples; (ii) evaluating the presence and the profile of mutagenic compounds in soils under the influence of coal ashes and (iii) investigating environmental routes of dispersion of mutagenic compounds in the study area. In order to achieve these aims, extraction processes for inorganic and organic compounds were tested concerning their efficiency to extract compounds potentially mutagenic to the specific Salmonella typhimurium strain that detects frameshift mutagens (TA98). The most efficient protocols were further utilized for the tests with different soil samples under the influence of coal-fired power plant using several strains, in absence and presence of metabolic activation (S9 mix fraction). Mutagenesis results associated with the chemical characterization of the organic compounds and metals indicated that contaminants present in coal ashes can be easily dispersed to adjacent areas. This approach allowed relating the presence of certain classes of compounds to specific damages in DNA and inferring distinct dispersion routes for these compounds. This work highlights the importance of studies concerning complex environmental matrices, specially contaminated soils, which seek the integration of mutagenesis data and their use from an ecological perspective.

Sasol is by far the world's leading company in upgrading of low-grade coal into high value chemicals and fuels. Such plants also utilise fine particles or pulverised coal in the combustion process to generate steam and electricity for their processes. Certain trace elements released from coal during utilisation may be of environmental concern. From the literature findings it appears that the elements of interest are mercury, arsenic and selenium due to their potential health hazard and as they are included in the United States of America, Europe and China Clean Air Act for their potential hazardous effects. It has been observed in the literature that these elements show a nature of high volatility compared to the rest of the elements and further mercury provides an important chemistry to investigate as it has the ability to accumulate in the food chain. It is likely that environmental legislation in South Africa could be implemented soon to control environmental pollution of selected trace element from coal plants. The toxicity of heavy metals is dependent on the chemical form in which the metal is released. Available analytical techniques for the measurement of trace metals are in many cases not able to differentiate between different chemical species in which the elements occur and are not very reliable at low concentration levels. This makes it difficult to estimate the real environmental impact of the emission of heavy metals as the result of coal processing. The project centred on a study of the partition behaviour of mercury during coal pyrolysis. Some other environmentally important trace elements, e.g. selenium and arsenic were also investigated. The stated aims of the project were reached by the following objectives: 1. Testing of suitable pyrolysis instrumentation. 2. Testing of absorption apparatus. 3. Testing of analytical methods. 4. Comparison of two coal types with regard to trace metal emission 5. Obtaining mass-balance closure with regard to mercury during pyrolysis. 6. Application of the FACTSAGE modelling package Samples were prepared and analysed for trace elements concentrations using advanced analytical techniques including modelling packages for comparison purposes. The conclusions of the project can be summarised as follows: • The partitioning behaviour of trace elements on a plant scale was successfully determined. • The modes of occurrence of some elements of environmental concern were successfully determined. It was not easy to compare these results with literature findings in this area as the coal used in this work was different from that used by other researchers. • The coal pyrolysis process was well understood. • The FACTSAGE package was applied successfully in this project in that it predicted the species of trace elements thus explaining the observed experimental findings, especially the analytical method used to analyse the concentration of mercury in solution. It can be concluded that research should start with theoretical studies like a model than an actual experiment as the model predicts direction of the reaction.
Thesis (M.Sc. (Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

In southern Africa, coal is a relatively abundant and cheap fossil fuel which is a major source of energy and a huge income generator. Although coal has found a lot of use, it is an anthropogenic source of trace element emissions and although these trace elements (TEs) may occur in parts per million, mass consumption of coal during utilisation results in the release of large quantities of potentially harmful TEs to the environment. With reported diseases like arsenism, minamata disease and selenosis (Zheng et al., 1999) from coal combustion emissions, it is important to regulate TE emissions. Due to global perception, the following TEs were chosen for consideration: As, B, Be, Co, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and V (which were analysed by ICP-MS) and Hg (which was analysed using an automatic Hydride Generation-Flow Injection Mercury System). There is limited data on TEs in African coals and whilst no TE control legislation exists, Pb in petrol is currently being regulated in South Africa. Important factors such as the mode of occurrence of TEs and their associations with other minerals in coal influence, or affect, the fate of TEs release during coal utilisation. Three run-of-mine (ROM) belt cut coal samples were supplied by Hwange Colliery and two South African samples were used for comparison. The coal samples were subjected to density fractionation and sequential leaching. Mineral matter was determined using XRD and coal petrography was used to consider the organic components. Comparisons of the ROM coals with average global and mean South African values were carried out. Generally, TEs like Cd, Sb and Se in ROM samples of both coalfields appear consistent with published SA data and global average values, whilst values of Hg and Mn in all the coal samples are above the global and SA average values. Density fractionation data show most TEs are concentrated in higher density fractions, hence showing an association with minerals over organic matter. Most TEs in Zimbabwean coals seem to show a strong correlation with mineral matter which should be able to be removed prior to coal utilisation during efficient beneficiation practises.

The presence of coal in the Springbok Flats Coalfield (SFC) has been known since the beginning of the 1900’s. The SFC has not been mined to any degree of economic profit, in part because of the presence of uranium (U) present in the coal. The motivation behind this study is the limited research on the amount of U that is associated with coal, as well as the quality of coal that is associated with the U. Concurrently, there is limited research focusing on the leaching of U from southern African coals in separating the two commodities. Five boreholes (BH) were drilled in the SFC (BH1 to BH5); BH5 had two coal zones, an upper coal zone (UCZ) and a lower coal zone coal (LCZ). Coal samples were collected, selected and characterized. The U content in the coal samples was determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, and X-Ray Fluorescence. Thereafter, coals with U content greater than 10 mg kg-1 were selected, and an extraction/leaching process was applied using sulfuric acid. Coal samples from BH1, the UCZ in BH5, and the LCZ in BH5 has an ash content over 50% average. These boreholes samples were considered to be primarily carbonaceous mudstones. BH2 resembled a typical South African bituminous coal, recording a carbon content ranging from 27.88% to 65.28%, averaging 44.6%; volatile matter and calorific values averaged 24.3% and 18.2 MJ/kg respectively. BH3 and BH4 had horizons with relatively good quality coal, where the carbon content and volatile matter averaged 38% / 39.7% and 22.4% / 15.1% respectively. BH3 had the highest U content average of all the borehole coal zones, registering 33 mg kg-1, followed by BH2 (26 mg kg-1) and BH1 (14 mg kg-1). BH4, the UCZ in BH5, and the LCZ in BH5 all had U content averages less than 10 mg kg-1. 11 samples containing U content higher than 10 mg kg-1 were selected for leaching. The samples were successfully leached with U content ranging from 4 to 1789 obtained in the leachates. Three samples with a U content higher than 50 mg kg-1 were selected to be leached under optimal conditions; U extraction increased under optimal conditions. The highest increase in U content was 106% from 1186 to 2438 leached into solution. Cake results displayed the U was successfully extracted using sulfuric acid, reaching a maximum of 50.7%, when leached at 5 M, and a 67.3% maximum when sample were leached at 10 M.

Aufgrund ihrer speziellen Eigenschaften können sogenannte eisnukleierende Partikel die Bildung von Eis in Wolken katalysieren. Laboruntersuchungen zum Gefrierverhalten dieser Partikel haben sich als wertvoll erwiesen, wenn es um das Verständnis zugrunde liegender Prinzipien und Mechanismen geht. Eine Spezies, die in früheren Untersuchungen vernachlässigt wurde, ist Flugasche aus Kohleverbrennung. Kohle-Flugasche (KFA) wird aufgrund ineffizienter Filterung submikroner Partikel über die Schornsteine von Kraftwerken emittiert und kann, in Abhängigkeit der meteorologischen Bedingungen, die Vereisung von Wolken in der Nähe der Quelle und darüber hinaus beeinflussen. In dieser Arbeit wurde das Immersionsgefrierverhalten, d.h. der Einfluss eingeschlossener Partikel auf das Gefrieren unterkühlter Tropfen, für vier verschiedene KFA-Proben aus deutschen Kohlekraftwerken untersucht. Dabei wurden einerseits Tropfen untersucht, die ein einzelnes submikrones Partikel enthielten. Andererseits wurde das Gefrierverhalten von Suspensionstropfen, die eine Vielzahl verschieden großer Partikel beinhalteten, quantifiziert. Zusätzlich wurden die Proben, sowohl in ihrer Gesamtheit als auch in Form einzelner submikroner Partikel, bezüglich ihrer chemischen Zusammensetzung, Morphologie und Kristallographie analysiert. Es wurde festgestellt, dass die Gefriereffizienz der Proben innerhalb von Minuten abnimmt, sobald diese in Berührung mit Wasser kommen. Immersionsgefriermessungen mit purem Anhydrit (CaSO4 ), das in den Proben nachgewiesen wurde, zeigten einen ähnlichen Trend, d.h. eine abnehmende Effizienz mit zunehmender Suspensionszeit. Diese Beobachtung, und die Übereinstimmung von Messungen mit KFA-Suspensionspartikeln und Gips (CaSO 4 * 2H2O, ein Hydrat des Anhydrits), weisen darauf hin, dass Hydratation die Ursache für die Abnahme der Gefriereffizienz sein könnte. Dieser Einfluss von Probeneigenschaften und Methodologie auf das Immersionsgefrierverhalten von KFA-Partikeln muss bei der Abschätzung der Relevanz der Partikel für die atmosphärische Eisnukleation unbedingt berücksichtigt werden.:1. Introduction 2. Fundamentals 2.1 Ice nucleation theory 2.2 Properties of CFA particles 3. Materials and Methods 3.1 Materials 3.2 Methods 4. Results 4.1 Physicochemical sample characterization 4.2 Immersion freezing behavior of CFA 5. Discussion 5.1 Comparison to literature results 5.2 Physicochemical particle properties and immersion freezing behavior 5.3 Atmospheric implications 6. Summary and Conclusions 7. Outlook
Due to their specific properties, atmospheric ice-nucleating particles are able to catalyze ice formation in clouds. Laboratory studies investigating the freezing behavior of these particles have proven to be of unmatched value when attempting to understand underlying principles and mechanisms. One species that has almost entirely been neglected in previous ice nucleation studies is fly ash from coal combustion (CFA: coal fly ash). Emitted through the stacks of power plants due to inefficient filtering of submicron particles, CFA has the potential to influence cloud glaciation in source regions and beyond, depending on the meteorological conditions. In this thesis, the immersion freezing behavior, i.e., the influence of particles immersed in supercooled cloud droplets on ice nucleation, of four samples from German power plants was determined with the help of several single particle and bulk instruments. In parallel, single particles and bulk CFA were investigated with respect to their chemical composition, morphology, and crystallography. It was found that the immersion freezing efficiency of the CFA particles decreases in contact with water on the time scale of minutes. Hydration products, that were found in both single particles and in the bulk after suspension, could be responsible for this unique behavior. Immersion freezing measurements with pure anhydrite (anhydrous CaSO4 ), which is known to occur at the surface of CFA particles, showed the same qualitative trend, i.e., a decreasing efficiency with increasing suspension time. This observation, and the agreement between measurements with suspended CFA particles and gypsum (CaSO4 * 2H2O, a hydrate of anhydrite), support the hypothesis that hydration causes the observed decrease in immersion freezing efficiency. This influence of sample properties and methodology on the immersion freezing behavior of CFA must be taken into consideration when assessing the relevance of these particles for atmospheric ice nucleation.:1. Introduction 2. Fundamentals 2.1 Ice nucleation theory 2.2 Properties of CFA particles 3. Materials and Methods 3.1 Materials 3.2 Methods 4. Results 4.1 Physicochemical sample characterization 4.2 Immersion freezing behavior of CFA 5. Discussion 5.1 Comparison to literature results 5.2 Physicochemical particle properties and immersion freezing behavior 5.3 Atmospheric implications 6. Summary and Conclusions 7. Outlook

Mining operations produce a multiscale network of fractures in the coal seams. Permeability evolution in rocks is important for coal bed methane (CBM) and shale gas exploitation as well as for greenhouse gas storage. Therefore, this work presents laboratory tests and a coupled model using PFC3D and FLAC3D to simulate the stress induced permeability evolution in coal samples. Basic mechanical properties are determined via lab testing. The spatial distributions of different components inside the reconstructed samples produce a significant heterogeneity based on CT technique. A newly developed experimental system is employed to perform 3-dimensional loading and to measure the flow rate simultaneously. The evolution process is described by 5 distinct phases in terms of permeability and deformation. Triaxial tests are simulated with PFC3D using a novel flexible wall boundary method. Gas seepage simulations are performed with FLAC3D. Relations between hydraulic properties and fracture data are established. Permeability and volumetric strain show good nonlinear exponential relation after a newly introduced expansion point. Piecewise relations fit the whole process, the expansion point can be treated as critical point. The structural characteristics of the samples influence this relation before and after the expansion point significantly.

The Ellisras Basin, with huge coal resources, is fault-bounded along its southern and northern margins and is a graben-type deposit. The study area is situated in the south-western part of the Limpopo Province of the Republic of South Africa and is geologically located in the Ellisras Basin. In this area the basin is influenced by three major fault zones, the Eenzaamheid Fault delineating its southern limit, the Zoetfontein Fault near its northern limit and the Daarby Fault, with a down-throw of approximately 350 m towards the north-east. Sedimentological facies changes also influence the continuity of the coal zones, with deterioration in coal development. The exploration project was a collaboration between two of the large role players in the South African coal mining industry Sasol and Exxaro, for the purpose of identifying whether the coal in the Ellisras Basin could be used for gasification purposes in the Sasol process, and that enough resources exist on the farms on which the two companies have the exploration rights.. The prospecting method used at the Project area, situated 50 kilometer west of the town of Lephalale in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, comprises the drilling of cored exploration boreholes on a random spacing of ± 1 000 m x 1 000 m, together with infill percussion drilling. The use of slimline geophysical methods to log lithologies is a technique which has been used extensively in the mining industry over a number of years. At the Project area the correlation between the measured densities derived from the traditional method of air and water measurement and those derived from Vectar processed derived densities from geophysical logging is better than 95%. As a method of “fingerprinting” the various coal zones and samples it was decided to calculate the distribution of relative densities in the chosen geological intersection. The data was then used to portray geophysically derived relative density cumulative distribution line diagrams (GDCDD) of the various lithotypes on either a sample-by-sample or zone-by-zone basis. Using the classification method proposed, the various coal seams and zones can be correlated to a high degree and discrepancies easily identified. The lateral correlation between lithologies can be accurately described and substantiated, and this would convince a Competent Person that the method proposed is invaluable in classifying coal resources in the coal basins.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
lk2014
Geology
PhD
Unrestricted