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Exploring Coal Cleaning Technology: Why Are Physical and Chemical Treatments So Important?
Coal is an energy source that supplies electricity needs around the world. However, the burning of coal also brings a series of environmental and health problems. In particular, burning coal releases harmful chemicals that contribute to air pollution, acid rain and greenhouse gas emissions. In order to solve these problems, various coal pollution mitigation technologies have been developed, among which physical and chemical treatment technologies for cleaning coal are very important.
Overview of Coal Pollution Mitigation Technology
Coal pollution mitigation technologies are generally divided into two broad categories: pre- and post-combustion countermeasures. Pre-combustion techniques include cleaning coal to remove unnecessary impurities from the coal and make it cleaner. Post-combustion technologies include flue gas desulfurization, selective catalytic reduction and other methods, aiming to capture harmful emissions produced during the combustion process.
Cleaning technology before combustion
Before coal is burned, coal can be cleaned by physical and chemical means.
Physical cleaning usually involves techniques such as gravity and flotation, which remove non-combustible components and minerals from coal.These techniques are widely used because the process is relatively simple and cost-effective. On the other hand, chemical treatment is to selectively use chemicals to separate the combustibles and harmful components of coal. This method is more expensive, and most of them are still in the experimental stage in the early stage.
Post-combustion treatment technology
Waste generated after coal combustion can be divided into gas, particulate matter and solid (coal ash). Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in
flue gas can be effectively removed through desulfurization and selective catalytic reduction technology, and mercury emissions can be reduced by up to 95%.In addition, electrostatic precipitators can remove particulate matter, while wet scrubbers can treat both gases and particulate matter.
Economic Challenges of Cleaning Coal
The cost of implementing these coal pollution mitigation technologies is an important factor driving their adoption.
The cost of cleaning coal is very high, making it challenging for many countries to promote these technologies.Especially for countries that mine and use coal industries, how to reduce environmental damage during coal use while being economically feasible has become a top priority.
Global status and case studies
Globally, countries have different management strategies for coal pollution. As the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide, China has begun to strengthen research on coal combustion efficiency in order to reduce the use of coal. In India, where health problems caused by pollution are particularly serious, the government is committed to developing technologies that can effectively reduce the sources of pollution. In Canada, Boundary Dam has become the world's first coal power plant with post-combustion carbon capture technology.
Future Outlook
As global demand for clean energy grows, various coal cleaning technologies and pollution mitigation solutions continue to advance. With the development of new technologies and the improvement of policies, how to balance the use of coal and environmental protection requirements will become a core issue in future energy development.
In terms of solving the environmental problems caused by the coal industry, how much investment is needed for the widespread application of these technologies to achieve the desired results and solve the climate change challenges faced by mankind?
