Sains Malaysiana 46(3)(2017): 387–392

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2017-4603-05

Geochemistry of Trace Elements as One of the Important Coal Quality Parameter: An Example from Balingian Coal, Malaysia

(Geokimia Unsur Surih Sebagai Salah Satu Parameter Penting dalam Kualiti Arang Batu:

Contoh dari Arang Batu Balingian, Malaysia)

SAY-GEE SIA^1,2* & WAN HASIAH ABDULLAH¹

¹Geology Department, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory

Malaysia

²Minerals and Geoscience Department Malaysia, 20th Floor, Tabung Haji Building,

Jalan Tun Razak, 50658 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

Received: 4 April 2016/Accepted: 22 July 2016

ABSTRACT

Ash and sulphur are the two main variables that influence coal quality and are therefore very important contractual parameters in a coal supply agreement. Coal which is low in ash yield and sulphur content is considered as 'cleaned coal'. Nonetheless, combustion of coal is also known to release toxic trace elements, which are known or suspected to be carcinogenic and may also cause respiratory problems, pregnancy complications, premature mortality and possibly a wide range of health problems. The two traditionally used coal quality parameters have proven to be insufficient for defining 'cleaned coal'. This is evidenced by the low ash and low sulphur Balingian coals that is seen as relatively safe in environmental terms, but still contains high concentrations of potentially hazardous trace elements which may pose health and environmental threats during coal combustion. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of coal quality should also include information on concentration, spatial distribution and modes of occurrence of trace elements, particularly the 15 potentially hazardous trace elements identified by the United States Clean Air Act Amendments (1990).

ABSTRAK

Abu dan sulfur adalah dua pemboleh ubah utama yang mempengaruhi kualiti arang batu. Ia merupakan parameter kontrak yang amat penting dalam perjanjian bekalan arang batu. arang batu yang rendah dalam kandungan abu dan kandungan sulfur dianggap sebagai 'arang batu bersih'. Walau bagaimanapun, pembakaran arang batu juga diketahui melepaskan unsur-unsur surih toksik, yang diketahui atau disyaki karsinogen dan juga boleh menyebabkan masalah pernafasan, komplikasi kehamilan, kematian pra-matang dan juga pelbagai masalah kesihatan. Kedua-dua parameter kualiti arang batu yang digunakan secara tradisi telah terbukti tidak mencukupi untuk menentukan 'arang batu bersih'. Ini telah terbukti dengan arang batu Balingian yang mengandungi abu dan sulfur yang rendah dan dilihat sebagai selamat daripada segi alam sekitar, tetapi ia mengandungi kandungan tinggi unsur surih yang berpotensi merbahaya yang boleh menimbulkan masalah kesihatan dan ancaman alam sekitar semasa pembakaran arang batu. Oleh itu, penilaian menyeluruh kualiti arang batu juga perlu memasukkan maklumat mengenai kepekatan, taburan dan mod kehadiran unsur-unsur surih, terutamanya 15 unsur surih yang berpotensi merbahaya yang telah dikenal pasti oleh Akta Udara Bersih Pindaan Amerika Syarikat (1990).

Kata kunci: Abu; arang; sulfur; unsur surih berpotensi bahaya

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*Corresponding author; email: siasg@siswa.um.edu.my