ACARP ACARP ACARP ACARP
Technical Market Support

Investigation of the oxidation rate in reducing coking propensity of individual maceral grains residing naturally in lump coal using FTIR microscopy

Technical Market Support » Metallurgical Coal

Published: December 21Project Number: C29067

Get ReportAuthor: Quang Anh Tran, Michael Stockenhuber, Eric Kennedy, Terry Wall, Behdad Moghtaderi, Rohan Stanger | University of Newcastle

The mechanism of coal oxidation has been studied by various researchers due to its importance towards coal utilisation and commercial implication. Changes in the coal technological properties are normally acquired to assess its behaviour during pyrolysis either as an individual or as a component in a coal blend. The various instrumental techniques and methods applied to assess coal oxidation degree can be broadly classified into optical microscopy methods and non-optical methods.

Petrological studies using optical microscope on oxidised coal reveals that discolouration of coal macerals can be observed with dark oxidation rims recorded at the vitrinite periphery. With respect to non-optical methods, rheological tests, such as Gieseler Plastometer and dilatometer, are used extensively as these tests are sensitive to the change in early stages of coal oxidation. However, as traditional measures of coal plasticity were deemed inadequate for predicting coke quality, the result of these tests might underestimate the quality of coke produced from oxidised coal samples which, in turn, lower their potential value.

FTIR microscopy (or μFTIR), a non-destructive analysis technique, can offer a unique ability to study coal oxidation as it can identify the structural change of individual maceral grains instead of the bulk coal as conventional FTIR, which requires coal to be ground to fine powder. μFTIR couples midinfrared spectroscopy with visible light microscopy to provide visualization and identification of functional group abundances in samples across 2D regions. Between the two μFTIR components, the microscope helps to determine the distribution of maceral grains in coal sample based on their reflectance level. This result will then be used as a guidance for FTIR analysis to be conducted precisely on individual macerals. As a result, this feature has the potential to allow coal oxidation studies to be conducted in situ on individual maceral, thus, offering the collection of oxidation information on coal maceral level.

This project aimed to take advantage of the μFTIR technique on investigating the structural change of macerals oxidation during storage and transport. This was achieved by utilising the FTIR microscope (or μFTIR) unit at the University of Newcastle. The apparatus combined the Bruker Tensor 37 (FTIR) with the Hyperion 2000 (microscopy) that allows the acquisition of good quality spectra even from small maceral grains thanks to its high spatial resolution (2.7 μm).

Underground

Health and safety, productivity and environment initiatives.

Recently Completed Projects

C34019Longwall Bretby Cable Handling Monitoring With Fibre Optics

This project examined the potential of using fibre optic sensing tec...

C27049Mine Machine Radar Sensor Integration

The aim of this project was to develop an integrated radar sensor an...

C29007Innovative Coal Burst System To Investigate The Influence Of Confinement Loss And Pre-Conditioning On Coal Burst Mechanism

The challenges associated with designing and operating a safe and pr...

Underground

Open Cut

Safety, productivity and the right to operate are priorities for open cut mine research.

Recently Completed Projects

C28035Topsoil Deficits In Site Rehabilitation Accelerated Transformation Of Spoils To Functional Soils

The incorporation of commercial biological amendments (compost, worm...

C34036Tyre Handler Testing Rig Stage 2: Lifting Trials

Tyre handling is a major source of risk in surface mining operations...

C29052Autonomous Water Pressure Sensors For Spoil Dumps And Dams

The geotechnical integrity and stability of a mine spoil dump or tai...

Open Cut

Coal Preparation

Maximising throughput and yield while minimising costs and emissions.

Coal Preparation

Technical Market Support

Market acceptance and emphasising the advantages of Australian coals.

Recently Completed Projects

C34060In-Situ Investigation Of Coke Structure Formation Under Stamp Charged Coking Conditions

Stamp charged cokemaking has emerged as an effective technique to im...

C34062Improving The Classification Of Microstructure Distribution In Coke CT Images Using Deep Learning And Lineal Path Calculations

This project builds on a number of earlier projects that have helped...

C29071Source Of Variability Of Reactivity Of Coke In The CSR Test

The Coke Strength after Reaction (CSR) test is used worldwide to det...

Technical Market Support

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the production of coal.

Recently Completed Projects

C28076Selective Absorption Of Methane By Ionic Liquids (SAMIL)

This third and final stage of this project was the culmination of a ...

C29069Low-Cost Catalyst Materials For Effective VAM Catalytic Oxidation

Application of ventilation air methane (VAM) thermal oxidiser requir...

C23052Novel Stone Dust Looping Process For Ventilation Air Methane Abatement

This multi‐phase project is concerned with the mitigation of m...

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Low Emission Coal Use

Step-change technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Recently Completed Projects

C17060BGasification Of Australian Coals

Four Australian coals were trialled in the Siemens 5 MWth pilot scale ga...

C17060AOxyfuel Technology For Carbon Capture And Storage Critical Clean Coal Technology - Interim Support

The status of oxy-fuel technology for first-generation plant is indicate...

C18007Review Of Underground Coal Gasification

This report consists of a broad review of underground coal gasification,...

Low Emission Coal Use

Mining And The Community

The relationship between mines and the local community.

Recently Completed Projects

C16027Assessing Housing And Labour Market Impacts Of Mining Developments In Bowen Basin Communities

The focus of this ACARP-funded project has been to identify a number...

C22029Understanding And Managing Cumulative Impacts Of Coal Mining And Other Land Uses In Regions With Diversified Economies

The coal industry operates in the context of competing land-uses that sh...

C23016Approval And Planning Assessment Of Black Coal Mines In NSW And Qld: A Review Of Economic Assessment Techniques

This reports on issues surrounding economic assessment and analysis ...

Mining And The Community

NERDDC

National Energy Research,Development & Demonstration Council (NERDDC) reports - pre 1992.

Recently Completed Projects

1609-C1609Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

1301-C1301Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development...

Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development and Extraction Operations

0033-C1356Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals...

Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals - An Industry Handbook

NERDDC