TY - JOUR
T1 - Characterization of superhigh-organic-sulfur Raša coal, Istria, Croatia, and its environmental implication
AU - Medunić, Gordana
AU - Grigore, Mihaela
AU - Dai, Shifeng
AU - Berti, Debora
AU - Hochella, Michael F.
AU - Mastalerz, Maria
AU - Valentim, Bruno
AU - Guedes, Alexandra
AU - Hower, James C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2020/1/2
Y1 - 2020/1/2
N2 - The Paleocene high volatile B bituminous Raša coal, mined on the Istrian Peninsula, Croatia, for nearly 400 years up to 1999, is notable in having a superhigh organic sulfur (SHOS) content, exceeding 11% in some cases. The latter feature contributed to interest in the coal, far outweighing its status as a locally-used coal. Investigation by organic petrology, X-ray diffraction mineralogy, X-ray fluorescence and ICP-MS chemistry, SEM-EDS and TEM-EDS-SAED, micro-FTIR spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy showed that the Raša coal is dominated by vitrinite-group macerals, CaO and SO3, carbonate minerals with contributions by Sr- and Ba-sulfates at the sub-micron scale, and the contribution of sulfur to the organic structure. Compared to Chinese SHOS coals and world ash, a majority of analyzed trace elements in Raša coal and ash, respectively, were depleted (up to 0.8 times), with the exception of V, Se, Sr, and Ba, which were increased 1.7 to 26 times. This fact, supported by elevated trace element concentrations in dripstone, are evidence for weathering of Raša coal by underground water, which is contaminating the local environment with trace elements, selenium in particular. Results of this study warrant further research.
AB - The Paleocene high volatile B bituminous Raša coal, mined on the Istrian Peninsula, Croatia, for nearly 400 years up to 1999, is notable in having a superhigh organic sulfur (SHOS) content, exceeding 11% in some cases. The latter feature contributed to interest in the coal, far outweighing its status as a locally-used coal. Investigation by organic petrology, X-ray diffraction mineralogy, X-ray fluorescence and ICP-MS chemistry, SEM-EDS and TEM-EDS-SAED, micro-FTIR spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy showed that the Raša coal is dominated by vitrinite-group macerals, CaO and SO3, carbonate minerals with contributions by Sr- and Ba-sulfates at the sub-micron scale, and the contribution of sulfur to the organic structure. Compared to Chinese SHOS coals and world ash, a majority of analyzed trace elements in Raša coal and ash, respectively, were depleted (up to 0.8 times), with the exception of V, Se, Sr, and Ba, which were increased 1.7 to 26 times. This fact, supported by elevated trace element concentrations in dripstone, are evidence for weathering of Raša coal by underground water, which is contaminating the local environment with trace elements, selenium in particular. Results of this study warrant further research.
KW - Coal chemistry
KW - Organic sulfur
KW - Raša
KW - Sulfur in coal
KW - Trace elements
KW - Water contamination
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U2 - 10.1016/j.coal.2019.103344
DO - 10.1016/j.coal.2019.103344
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85075040793
SN - 0166-5162
VL - 217
JO - International Journal of Coal Geology
JF - International Journal of Coal Geology
M1 - 103344
ER -