Susceptibility to spontaneous combustion of Indian coals and lignites: an organic petrographic autopsy

Spontaneous combustion of the Upper Paleocene Cerrejón Formation coal and generation of clinker in La Guajira Peninsula (Caribbean Region of Colombia)

“…This phenomenon considerably favours spontaneous combustion when pyrite occurs as fine-grained disseminations in the coal matrix and its content is relatively high (Ghosh, 1986). Other minerals such as siderite (Misra and Singh, 1994) and calcite (Sujanti and Zhang, 1999) have also been found to facilitate spontaneous combustion. The concentration of sulphide minerals must be > 1-2% so that they have a significant effect.…”

“…The main reason for the difficulties in understanding the mechanism of spontaneous combustion is the presence of many internal and external factors affecting the initiation and development of the phenomenon (Kaymakci and Didari, 2002). It occurs when the rate of heat generated by the oxidation of organic matter exceeds the rate of heat dissipation (Misra and Singh, 1994). Coal requires a heat source to promote spontaneous combustion.…”

“…But not only the humidity and oxidation are the main factors to initialize the spontaneous combustion, there are other factors that can contribute to the occurrence of this phenomenon: (1) Air flow provides the necessary oxygen during the oxidation is also a form to dissipate the heat generated. (2) A low coalification rank favours spontaneous combustion due to the faster transport of oxygen across the coal enhanced by higher porosity, moisture and volatile matter (Misra and Singh, 1994). Sub-bituminous coals have a high percentage of reactive macerals that increase the tendency to the heating.…”

Review of experimental methods to determine spontaneous combustion susceptibility of coal – Indian context

“…It is concluded that the amount of vitrinite and liptinite (exinite) contents influence the spontaneous combustion susceptibility of coal seams, and with an increase in coalification, the liability to spontaneous combustion gradually decreases (Avila, 2012;D. Chandra & Prasad, 1990;Misra & Singh, 1994;D. S. Pattanaik et al, 2011).…”

“…Chandra, , 1975D. Chandra & Prasad, 1990;Crelling, Schader, & Benedict, 1979;Gray, Rhoades, & King, 1976;Marchioni, 1983;Misra & Singh, 1994;Ndaji & Thomas, 1995;Pearson & Creaney, 1981;Stach et al, 1982). These tests are required by consumer of coal users as well as mine operators for quality coal production.…”