A review of the mineralogical and chemical composition of nanoparticles associated with coal fires

Silva, Luis; Schindler, Michael; Alavijeh, Mozhgan Akbari; Finkelman, Robert B.; Oliveira, Marcos L.S.

doi:10.1002/jeq2.20409

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 120 publications

(234 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In their analysis of coal fires, Silva et al [20] discussed nanominerals and ultra-fine particles in sublimates from the Ruth Mullins coal fire, Perry County, Eastern Kentucky, USA. A few years later, in their review of the mineralogical and chemical composition of nanoparticles associated with spontaneous coal fires, Silva et al [21] stated that these particles are an integral part of coal fire emissions and recommended methods for their sampling and analysis. They noted that studying the influence of nanoparticles in areas of spontaneous coal combustion requires a multidisciplinary approach.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coal Fire Sublimates: Are We Missing Something?

Finkelman,

Dodds,

Nichols

et al. 2023

Sustainability

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Uncontrolled coal fires present a nearly unparalleled environmental and human health disaster. These fires can cause the destruction of the ecosystem, ignite forest fires, become a source of windblown dust and siltation of streams, and pollute surface water, ground water, and crops. They can cause significant disruption of families and communities resulting from physical hazards of collapse or explosion, excessive heat, visual blight and loss of potentially valuable acreage, deterioration of cultural infrastructure, personal and public property, and loss of a valuable energy resource. The emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases presents a significant health hazard due to respiration of dust and aerosols, and exposure to acidic gases, potentially toxic trace elements, and organic compounds. Numerous studies have described many dozens of phases that have condensed from the effluents of these fires. However, many of these studies may have overlooked the nano- and ultra-fine particles that exist beside, in, and under the brightly colored, often spectacular crystalline macro phases. Using a scanning electron microscope with an energy dispersive X-ray detector we examined a small (30 mm × 10 mm) piece of condensate from an uncontrolled coal fire in the Jharia region of India and found more than 30 different phases in this one small piece. The phases included ammonium, copper, iron, lead, bismuth chlorides; bismuth, lead, and ammonium silici-fluorides; ammonium and lead iodates; iron, barium, lead, copper, and zinc sulfides; iron and silicon oxides; and others. Broken fragments revealed multiple generations of phases. Though not strictly nanoparticles (smaller than 0.1 μm), many of these particles are in the micrometer to sub-micron range and it is likely that there are phases present in the nanoparticle size range. Certainly, particulates in the nanoparticle and ultra-fine particle range are being released from the uncontrolled coal fires and may be impacting the environment and the health of the mine workers and nearby residents, an issue that should be investigated.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%