Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi - Mineral Resources Management

Abstract

The coal combustion process is the basic method of electricity production in Poland. The wastes from this process are slag and exhaust fumes which contain fly ash and gases (n 2 , H 2 O, SO x , nO x , CO, CO 2 , carbohydrates, and aldehydes). The main disadvantage of the currently used combustion technologies is the emission of pollutants, mainly CO 2 , into the atmosphere, as well as the low efficiency of power units (kordylewski 2005; Ściążko 2009). In Poland, the wastes resulting from the energetic combustion of coal are mainly neutralized by landfilling and they are therefore seen as a threat to the environment (łączny 2002). On the other hand, fly ash can be used in environmental protection, including air protection (for desulphurization and removal of CO 2 from exhaust gas), surface waters (for removing the causes of eutrophication of lakes), groundwater (for creating protective barriers) and for the recultivation of degraded areas (