Assessment of carbonization of coal as a potential strategy to reduce emissions for domestic applications

Özet

Coal mining areas in India have a large number of households that use raw coal for cooking. Emissions from suchcookstoves lead to issues of both ambient as well as indoor air pollution. Several studies report thatPM≤2.5 μm emissions from coal cookstoves are influenced by the volatile content of the coal. The presentstudy investigates the effect of temperature of carbonization on the extent of reduction in PM≤2.5 μm emissionsfor two types of bituminous coals. Raw coals and coals carbonized at 200, 400 and 600 °C, are burnt in twodifferent types of domestic cookstoves. PM≤2.5 μm, EC-OC, and CO measurements are made in a 90-mincombustion cycle. Emissions are found to decrease from 20 to 70% for the two coals carbonized at 400 and600 °C. The corresponding ignition temperatures are also estimated for the fuels to address the issue of ignitabilitywith traditional methods. Emission factors for PM≤2.5 μm, CO and EC-OC are developed, and suggestthat carbonization at 600 °C is adequate for minimizing PM emissions while assuring ignitability in the cookstovestested.