U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Industrial Environmental Research
Office of Research and Development Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
EPA-600/7-77-142
December 1977
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
OF LOW/MEDIUM-BTU
GASIFICATION: ANNUAL REPORT
Interagency
Energy-Environment
Research and Development
Program Report
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RESEARCH REPORTING SERIES
Research reports of the Office of Research and Development, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, have been grouped into seven series.
These seven broad categories were established to facilitate further
development and application of environmental technology. Elimination
of traditional grouping was consciously planned to foster technology
transfer and a maximum interface in related fields. The seven series
are:
1. Environmental Health Effects Research
2. Environmental Protection Technology
3. Ecological Research
4. Environmental Monitoring
5. Socioeconomic Environmental Studies
6. Scientific and Technical Assessment Reports (STAR)
7. Interagency Energy-Environment Research and Development
This report has been assigned to the INTERAGENCY ENERGY-ENVIRONMENT
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT series. Reports in this series result from
the effort funded under the 17-agehcy Federal Energy/Environment
Research and Development Program. These studies relate to EPA's
mission to protect the public health and welfare from adverse effects
of pollutants associated with energy systems. The goal of the Program
is to assure the rapid development of domestic energy supplies in an
environmentally—compatible manner by providing the necessary
environmental data and control technology. Investigations include
analyses of the transport of energy-related pollutants and their health
and ecological effects; assessments of, and development of, control
technologies for energy systems; and integrated assessments of a wide
range of energy-related environmental issues.
REVIEW NOTICE
This report has been reviewed by the participating Federal
Agencies, and approved for publication. Approval does not
signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and
policies of the Government, nor does mention of trade names
or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommen-
dation for use.
This document is available to the public through the National Technical
Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.
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EPA-600/7-77-142
December 1977
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
OF LOW/MEDIUM BTU GASIFICATION
ANNUAL REPORT
by
E.G. Cavanaugh and W.C. Thomas
Radian Corporation
8500 Shoal Creek Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78757
Contract No. 68-02-2147, Exhibit A
Program Element No. EHE623A
EPA Project Officer: William J. Rhodes
Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory
Office of Energy, Minerals, and Industry
Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711
Prepared for
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Research and Development
Washington, D.C. 20460
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ABSTRACT
Radian Corporation of Austin, Texas, is under a
three-year contract to the United States Environmental Protection
Agency to perform an environmental assessment of low/medium-Btu
gasification technology.
Work performed by Radian during the first half of the
program is summarized in this annual report. Activities in
three major task areas are addressed:
1) Current process technology background -
the gathering, classifying, and assessing
of available information on low/medium-Btu
gasification.
2) Environmental data acquisition - the
planning for and execution of environmental
tests at operating low/medium-Btu gasifi-
cation facilities.
3) Control technology assessment - identifying
control technology needs and selecting
applicable emission control processes.
Efforts have been concentrated in the current process technology
background task area, but have now shifted to the environmental
data acquisition task. Future emphasis will be placed on data
acquisition and control technology assessment.
iii
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 EPA ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS 1
1. 2 TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES 2
2.0 SUMMARY OF PROGRESS 3
2.1 CURRENT PROCESS TECHNOLOGY BACKGROUND 4
2.1.1 Technical Information Files 4
2.1.2 Engineering Analysis 6
2 . 2 ENVIRONMENTAL DATA ACQUISITION 13
2.2.1 Sampling and Analytical Strategy 13
2.2.2 Test Site Selection 14
2 . 3 CONTROL TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT 19
2.3.1 Stepwise Investigation of Control Needs.. 19
2.3.2 Progress to Date 20
APPENDIX A TECHNICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM 21
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SECTION 1.0
INTRODUCTION
Radian Corporation of Austin, Texas, is under a three-
year contract to the United States Environmental Protection
Agency to perform an environmental assessment of low/medium-Btu
gasification technology. The program is being directed by the
EPA1s Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory at Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina (IERL/RTP). The work performed
by Radian Corporation from the start of the program in March 1976
through October 1977 is summarized in this annual report.
1.1
EPA ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS
Radian's low/medium-Btu technology assessment program
is one of a number of environmental assessment programs for fos-
sil fuel conversion technologies being conducted by the IERL/RTP.
These programs, when fully developed, will provide technical sup-
port to EPA1s standard setting and regulatory functions. Through
these efforts, control technology needs will also be identified.
define:
The overall goal of the EPA in this program is to
1) potential emission sources of environmental
concern in fossil fuel conversion facilities,
2) the effectiveness and cost of controlling
those emissions to varying levels through
the application of candidate control methods,
and
3) areas in which existing controls appear to
be inadequate for purposes of controlling
hazardous pollutant emissions to acceptable
levels.
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1.2 TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES
The overall technical objectives of the low/medium-Btu
gasification environmental assessment program are
1) to perform a comprehensive multimedia
environmental assessment of coal gasifi-
cation processes which produce, and
end-use options which consume, low/medium-
Btu gases, and
2) to define the control techniques which
will have to be applied to guarantee the
environmental acceptability of this technology.
Ultimately, it is intended that specific methods will be devel-
oped as part of this study which would provide the means of
defining the environmental impacts and environmental control
needs as functions of design and operating parameters. In other
words, a predictive capability would be developed as a result
of studying the effects of such things as feedstock properties,
process configurations, operating conditions, and regulatory
constraints on waste stream compositions and control needs.
-2-
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SECTION 2.0
SUMMARY OF PROGRESS
During the first half of this three-year program,
considerable effort was concentrated on gathering and classify-
ing information on low/medium-Btu gasification technology. Data
available from all known sources - literature, process operators,
consultants, and so forth - were collected in a technical
library. Information from this library was then used to formu-
late a data base in which the primary process functions and
their potential environmental impacts are defined. At this
point, much of the gathering of existing data and process
analysis work is complete. Progress in these areas is reported
under 2.1, Current Process Technology Background.
The next key step in the program is data acquisition.
This work is well underway and it will continue to receive major
emphasis during the last half of the program. Through develop-
ment of the data base, the significant low/medium-Btu processes
were identified as were the points at which environmental prob-
lems were most likely to occur. Plant sites suitable for field
testing were located and specific environmental tests were
planned for those for which access could be obtained. In support
of these data acquisition activities, methodologies were developed
for test planning, sampling, analysis, and interpretation, and
then assembled into a procedures manual tailored specifically
for environmental investigations. Progress of these activities
is reported under 2.2, Environmental Data Acquisition.
The final planned phase of this program is control
technology assessment. While little can now be reported on this
segment of the program, it will receive more emphasis as the
results of field testing are reported. Some aspects of control
technology are known; raw gas cleaning methods for sulfur cleanup
and particulate removal have been reported. The difficult areas
are those for which the environmental problems themselves have
not yet been defined: cyanide and phenol contents in wastewater
emissions; potentially hazardous components in fugitive emissions;
potentially hazardous materials in solid waste and particulates;
and so forth. Information from environmental test programs will
help reveal the true impact of such pollutants and will, in the
final analysis, dictate the control technology required for each
source. The limited results from this part of the program are
reported under 2.3, Control Technology Assessment.
-3-
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2.1 CURRENT PROCESS TECHNOLOGY BACKGROUND
Through October 1977, Radian's activities in this
area included 1) conducting an extensive literature search and
establishing a readily accessible reference library and data
base, 2) performing engineering analyses of low/medium-Btu gasi-
fication processes, and 3) providing general support to the EPA
for coal gasification.
2.1.1 Technical Information Files
The data base for low/medium-Btu technology is, in
fact, a compilation of usable data, assembled in a useful
manner. An investigator who wishes to initiate an environmental
assessment program for a given process, e.g., a Wellman-Galusha
gasifier, must first be able to assemble all pertinent data
(operating, cost, environmental, etc.) on this process before
he can intelligently plan a test program.
For this reason, it was important to develop an
efficient system for cataloguing, storing and accessing infor-
mation contained in the data base. Radian's data base for the
low/medium-Btu gasification environmental assessment program is
maintained in a dedicated library. This library houses 1) the
technical information files, 2) card catalogues for accessing
information by an assigned reference number, author or subject,
and 3) news releases on current developments in low-Btu gasifi-
cation and related technologies.
An extensive survey was initiated early in the program
to identify information available on low-Btu technology. Empha-
sis was placed on topics such as gasification, gas cleanup,
pollution control and environmental regulations. Test methods,
including sampling and analytical techniques, were also given
strong emphasis.
The information survey involved manual screening of
selected abstracting and indexing publications. Computerized
on-line literature searches of selected topics were conducted.
Agencies, institutions, companies and experts were contacted.
Special searches in other areas of interest were conducted when
required. A simplified flowsheet showing Radian's technical
literature handling system is presented in Figure 2-1. An
-4-
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FUNCTIONS:
IDENTIFY
SOURCES
FILE
MAINTENANCE
SCREENING'
SELECTION
FIL6
MAINTENANCE
DISTRIBUTION/
DISSEMINATION
RADEAN
HOUMWa
OH-L1NI
SEARCHES
MANUAL
SEARCHES
CURRENT
AWARENESS
SOCIAL
SOURCES
1
REPORT NO. PILE
1
COMTMACT NO. RUE
REPRODUCE MBC
MASTER FIU
SU94ECT FILi AUTHOR fiE
8El.eCT ttCFEftEMCES
70 6E RETRIEVED
SPECIAL ORDER FO«"
(QPO, WTI3. ETC.I
Figure 2-1. TECHNICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM
-5-
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indexing system including key work references was designed to
provide ready access to the technical information acquired. As
a result of the information survey efforts, the low-Btu library
now contains approximately 10,000 citations, with full-text
copies of over 3,500 documents. Appendix A contains a list of
the literature sources, special search areas and indexing terms
used by Radian in assembling this library.
Several communication devices were implemented to
ensure that the literature identified and entered in Radian's
technical information system would reach appropriate project
team members, the EPA, and other prime contractors. "New Titles"
lists provide personnel an opportunity to be aware of and, if
interested, request reports readily available in-house. Listings
also include titles of those NTIS reports received under a special
subscription search service for the subject area, "Coal Gasifi-
cation. "
Responsibility for maintaining awareness of certain
key areas in the low-Btu data base is assigned to individual
project members. All new citations added to the files are
automatically routed through these personnel. Similarly, all
literature identified via screening of the current technical
literature is also routed directly to these persons. They, in
turn, are responsible for evaluating and identifying key refer-
ences within their general areas of expertise.
2.1.2 Engineering Analysis
Engineering assessment activities in this program have
been geared to the following general objectives:
1) reduction of the mass of information in
the technical data file to an orderly,
useful environmental data base.
2) analysis of gasification and control
processes, with the particular objective
of planning environmental tests,
3) support of the EPA in low/medium-Btu and
related technologies, as requested.
-6-
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Summaries of significant engineering analyses, reports, and
related activities are given on the following pages.
Environmental AssessmentData Base for Low/Medium-Btu
Gasification Technology
During the first year of the low/medium-Btu gasifica-
tion program, a detailed engineering assessment of available
process, environmental, and control technology data for low/
medium-Btu gasification and end-use technology was assembled.
This was intended to 1) provide a data base for subsequent
environmental and control technology assessments, 2) describe
processes that are viable candidates for use as gas purifi-
cation and pollution control processes in low/medium-Btu
gas production facilities, and 3) identify known pollution
problems and data gaps.
As additional data became available, the scope of the
engineering assessment was broadened to include coal pre-
treatment, gasification and end-use technologies. A report
summarizing the results of the expanded engineering assessment
(EPA 600/7-77-125a and b) was prepared. The purpose of this
report was to provide practical and up-to-date discussions of
1) the processes which can be used to produce
low/medium-Btu gas from coal,
2) the constraints imposed upon those processes
by the intended end uses of the product gas,
3) the air, water, and solid waste streams
generated by those processes, and
4) the pollution control techniques which
appear to be applicable to the control of
those multimedia discharge streams.
Throughout the report, attention is focused on those
processes which appear to have the highest likelihood of near-
term commercialization. The following criteria were used to
identify these processes:
-7-
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1) applicability to low/medium-Btu
gasification and utilization tech-
nologies,
2) development status,
3) energy efficiency,
4) limitations (unusual raw material needs,
sensitivity to various feedstocks and
operating parameters, utilization pro-
cess requirements, etc.),
5) environmental impacts, and
6) capital and operating costs.
This technology screening step is of considerable importance to
the overall program; it is the primary basis for establishing
priorities for subsequent phases of program activity.
Both low/medium-Btu gasification and product gas
utilization technologies are considered in the report. Gasifi-
cation technology is assumed to include the processes required
both to produce low/medium-Btu gas and to control the resulting
multimedia discharge streams. The systems used to produce low/
medium-Btu gas are grouped into three operations: coal pre-
treatment, gasification, and gas purification. There are three
pollution control areas: one for air, one for water, and one
for solid waste.
Each of the three operations is further divided into
process modules. Each module has a defined process function
and identifiable input and output streams. Utilization tech-
nology includes the processes that may use the product low/
medium-Btu gas for direct combustion (boilers, furnaces, gas
turbines, etc.) or as a synthesis or reducing gas.
As a result of the screening step, fourteen gasifi-
cation processes out of a total population of 68 were identified
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(see Table 2-1) as the most promising candidates for satisfying
near-term commercial needs for low/medium-Btu gas. Similarly,
the thirteen acid gas removal processes shown in Table 2-2 were
identified out of a total population of 70 as those having the
highest probabilities of near-term application in low/medium-Btu
gasification systems. Detailed data sheets for these high
probability processes as well as for processes for treating air,
water and solid waste discharges are included in Volume II of
the report. Volume I contains discussions of the status of
technology, major operations, discharge stream control strategies,
and recommendations for future program activities.
Lurgi Process Studies
During the first year of the program, information was
assembled which provided a basic understanding of the Lurgi
gasification process. Basic process engineering studies were
made to define operating conditions and compositions of the
major process and discharge streams for a Lurgi medium-Btu
gasification plant. The process schematic used was an adapt-
ation of the proposed El Paso Burnham gasification plant.
Process descriptions (including a Rectisol acid gas removal
unit), a material balance and a discharge stream summary were
prepared for the Lurgi plant. There were two purposes for this
work. One objective was to aid in preparation for test program
planning at the Kosovo lignite gasification plant in Yugoslavia.
This work also served as Radian's part in a joint study to provide
technical support for New Source Performance Standards.
General conclusions from these studies of the Lurgi
process are summarized below.
1) Sulfur compounds can be controlled by
use of currently available commercial
technology for acid gas removal, sulfur
recovery, and tail gas cleanup.
2) The Phenosolvan process should recover
99 percent of the monohydric phenols and
50-60 percent of the polyhydric phenols
from wastewater,
3) Ammonia recovery in the range of 90-95
percent is possible.
-9-
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Table 2-1. PROMISING LOW/MEDIUM-BTU GASIFICATION SYSTEMS
O
I
First Group1
• Wellman-Galusha
• Lurgi
• Woodall Duckham/
Gas Integrale
• Koppers-Totzek
• Winkler
• Wellman Incandescent
• Foster Wheeler/Stoic
Second Group'
Chapman (Wilputte)
Riley Morgan
Third Group:
• Pressurized Wellman-
Galusha (MERC)
• BGC/Lurgi Slagging
Gasifier
• Texaco
• Bi-Gas
• Coalex
1 Commercially available; significant number of units currently operating in the
U.S. or in foreign countries.
Commercially demonstrated in limited applications.
'Commercial or demonstration-scale units operating or being constructed; technology
is promising and should be monitored.
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Table 2-2. PROMISING ACID GAS REMOVAL PROCESSES
Chemical Solvent Processes
Monoethanolamine (MEA)
Methyldiethanolamine (MDEA)
Diethanolamine (DEA)
Diisopropanolamine (DIPA)
Diglycolamine (DGA)
Benfield
Phys ical SolyentProcesses
Rectisol
Selexol
Purisol
Estasolvan
Fluor solvent
Combination Chemical/Physcial
Solvent Processes
Sulfinol
Amisol
-11-
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4) Particulate control using wash cooling
and liquid scrubbing for acid gas removal
appears adequate for all potential uses.
5) The distribution of trace metals is unknown
but studies of metal volatility indicate that
mercury, selenium, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and
vanadium will tend to go overhead in the product
gas along with fluorine and chlorine. Where and
if they eventually leave the gas as it cools is
uncertain. These species present potential
environmental problems regardless of whether they
remain in the gas or end up in the gas liquor or
in by-product hydrocarbons.
6) The potential hazards of trace organics which
are formed and their distribution in the
process stream's are also largely unknown.
Some of the organics will obviously be highly
aromatic or heterocyclic. Many known or sus-
pected carcinogens and mutagens fall into
these categories. Water and air pollution
control to remove minute quantities of these
compounds will be difficult to achieve.
In-Situ Coal Gasification: Status ofTechnology and
Environmental Impact
This report, published in May 1977 (EPA 600/7-77-045),
contained general discussions of the chemistry, technical
problems and environmental considerations associated with in-
situ gasification technology. Activities at specific U.S. and
foreign in-situ projects were summarized and detailed descrip-
tions of the technical objectives, the test approach, and results
of each of these projects were provided.
Some general conclusions of an environmental nature
resulting from the study are summarized below:
1) Degradation of ground water could result from
• organic contaminants in the tar produced
during carbonization or gasification,
-12-
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inorganic salts or trace element
loading due to dissolution of ash,
and
changes in water flow patterns or
rates resulting from subsidence or
interconnection of aquifers by frac-
turing.
2) Only limited information is available on
the impact of in-situ gasification on air
quality.
3) To date, no subsidence effects have been
observed, but again only limited data are
available on this subject.
2.2 ENVIRONMENTAL DATA ACQUISITION
Through study of the current process technology
background, Radian identified significant gaps in the environ-
mental data base for low/medium-Btu gasification. Filling these
data gaps is the primary objective of the data acquisition task.
Efforts in this area have been centered on two activities:
development of sampling and analytical strategies, and selection
and testing of appropriate data acquisition sites.
2.2.1 Sampling and Analytical Strategy
Radian has prepared numerous writings dealing with
test plan development. This information presents a general
approach to conducting environmental test programs. Major
emphasis is placed on the steps involved in developing process
descriptions and the detailed test program. The significant
portions of this material have been incorporated into a compre-
hensive document, Guidelines for Preparing Environmental Test
Plans for Coal GasTTication Facilities.
The basic approach used in preparation of this guide-
line document was to assume there are four general areas to be
addressed in a test program planning effort:
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1) engineering analysis of the potential
test site,
2) definition of test objectives and
methods of satisfying these objectives,
3) selection of sampling methods, and
4) selection of analysis methods.
The relationship of these four test planning functions is
illustrated diagrammatically on Figure 2-2.
2.2.2 Test Site Selection
One of the first steps in selecting the most applicable
sites for environmental testing was to assemble a list of key
organizations and personnel involved in low/medium-Btu gasifica-
tion technology. This list served as a starting point for
investigating test site possibilities in both the U.S. and other
countries.
As of October 1977, arrangements had been made for
testing at the following four sites:
1) Holston Army Ammunition Plant
Kingsport, Tennessee
2) Kosovo Combine
Pristina, Yugoslavia
3) Glen-Gery Brick Company
York, Pennsylvania
4) University of Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
-14-
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Information
Needed
Engineering
Evaluation
Plant
Inspection
t
Define
— __.,fc Tc<~t f
i
Sampling
Methods
> Type of
)bjectives
Major
\
k^
— - W"""
\
«> iftfc
\
Est
Test
Analysis
Methods
/
ablish
Areas in Test Plan Preparation
Site Specific
^
Test Plan
f
Figure 2-2. INFORMATION FLOW DIAGRAM FOR THE PREPARATION
OF A SITE SPECIFIC TEST PLAN.
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Holston Site
This plant has been in operation for over thirty years
The plant contains twelve Chapman gasifiers. Currently, only
two gasifiers are normally operated at any time. It is an
excellent test site for the following reasons:
1) It is one of only four commercial-scale
low-Btu gasification plants in operation
in this country.
2) The facility has a well-defined operating
history.
3) It uses fixed-bed atmospheric pressure
gasifiers which are representative of
the gasifiers currently in commercial
use in this country.
4) The plant uses bituminous coal, a widely
available feedstock.
5) The plant includes a gas quenching-
scrubbing system from which liquid by-
products are removed.
6) It provides an opportunity to obtain
particulate removal effectiveness data
for a hot cyclone.
7) It was available for testing almost
immediately.
The specific objectives of the Holston test program were
1) to evaluate EPA Level 1 sampling and
analytical procedures for their applica-
bility to emission streams from low-Btu
gasification processes,
-16-
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2) to identify the origin and fate of
potentially hazardous components in a
specific coal gasification plant, and
3) to obtain control technology data relating
to
emissions from coal feed systems,
and
the effectiveness of a hot cyclone
as a particulate removal device.
The detailed test plan for the Holston site was prepared
in early August 1977 and sampling was conducted in August and
September 1977. Seven streams were sampled for environmental
testing. In addition, total particulate loadings were measured
in the hot gas cyclone inlet and outlet streams. Sampling data
and the results of on-site analyses and preliminary off-site
analyses are now being evaluated.
Kosovo Site
The Kosovo plant uses oxygen-blown Lurgi gasifiers to
produce medium-Btu gas for an industrial complex. This plant is
a desirable test site for several reasons.
1) The Lurgi process is a widely used
commercial process.
2) It has successfully operated (since 1971)
with a lignite feedstock.
3) It is a pressurized oxygen-blown system.
4) A Rectisol unit is used to remove H2S
from the medium-Btu gas.
Preliminary planning for a specific test program at the Kosovo
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plant was initiated in June 1976 during a visit to the plant by
EPA and Radian representatives. An environmental and control
technology test plan for the Kosovo plant was developed by the
Rudarski Institute (Belgrade, Yugoslavia), EPA and Radian. A
final agreement for testing this plant was negotiated and
approved in September 1977- Sampling and analysis activities
at the Kosovo facility began in November 1977. While the actual
sampling and analysis work will be performed by Kosovo plant
personnel, Radian is providing technical personnel to assist in
these activities.
Other Sites
Preliminary test plans have been developed for the
Glen-Gery brick plant at York, Pennsylvania, where a Wellman-
Galusha fixed-bed atmospheric gasifier is being installed, and
at the University of Minnesota at Duluth where a Foster Wheeler-
Stoic gasifier is scheduled to be installed by late 1978. Both
of these tests will be conducted in conjunction with DOE's
Gasifiers in Industry test program.
Grab Sample Analyses
During visits to several potential test sites, grab
samples of selected liquid and solid discharge streams were
obtained. The purpose was to apply Level 1 analytical procedures
to typical gasification plant samples. Some conclusions from
this random sampling and analysis effort were:
1) The major organic constituent of quench
liquor obtained at Site A was phenol with
lesser amounts of di- and trisubstituted
components; volatile organics fell mainly
in a chromatographic boiling range of
160-200°C.
2) As expected for recycled process liquids,
the levels of trace elements in the Site A
quench liquor equaled or exceeded the levels
listed in the Federal Water Quality Standards
for nearly every element. The largest devia-
tion was shown by selenium at 4 ppm (400 times
the quality standard for surface water).
18-
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3) The Site A cyclone bottom dust (from
bituminous coal) appeared to consist of
hollow spheres with a nominal particle
diameter (dso) of 170y. Fines appeared to
be sections of broken spheres. The Site C
bottom dust (bituminous coal) was smaller
and irregular in shape, but of comparable
bulk density. The Site B dust (anthracite
coal) had a particle shape comparable to
the Site C dust but was more than twice as
dense and was highly agglomerated.
2.3 CONTROL TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
2.3.1 Stepwise Investigation of Control Needs
The ultimate goal of this program is to specify environ-
mental control technology for low/medium-Btu gasification
facilities. To reach this goal will require moving through a
series of studies, tests, and assessments such as described in
the following steps:
Step 1 - Gain understanding of the processes
generating products, by-products,
and pollutants.
Step 2 - Study the control technology now
available for air, water, and solid
waste pollution control.
Step 3 - Consider the nature of waste streams
from priority processes and determine
which streams will require analysis.
Step 4 - Analyze and characterize waste streams
from typical coal conversion plants
through the data acquisition program.
Step 5 - Identify pollutants in these waste
streams that must be controlled if the
process is to be made environmentally
acceptable.
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Step 6 - Specify how much each pollutant must
be reduced in each stream.
Step 7 - Specify what kind of existing control
technology can be used, or what type
of new technology will be needed.
2.3.2 Progress to Date
At this point in the program, Radian has moved through
Step 3 for many processes and has entered Step 4 (data acquisition)
for a few processes now in operation. Results from current and
future tests will allow activities to move into the "specification
of needs" area such as will be involved in Steps 5, 6, and 7.
Results from the Holston tests and subsequent tests at Glen-Gery.
University of Minnesota, and Kosovo Combine will provide the
first information to the program in which process and waste
streams are truly characterized. The amount of cyanides or
phenols in wastewater, trace elements in all waste streams,
physical properties of particulates and ash, and hundreds of
other pieces of data will be used to arrive at the environmental
characterization of the plants being tested.
Some preliminary work has started. For instance, at
Holston, tests were conducted to determine the dust collection
efficiency of hot cyclones handling raw product gas. After
analysis of the other samples collected there (Step 4), a period
of interpretation (Step 5) will occur before moving to Steps 6
and 7.
In summary, it is anticipated that considerable progress
will be made in control technology assessment activities during
the next year. The rate at which this work unfolds will be
dependent on the quantity and quality of data obtained from the
test programs.
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APPENDIX A
TECHNICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM
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Table A-l. INFORMATION SOURCES USED IN GENERAL LITERATURE SEARCH
Subject
Source
Period of coverage
RADIAN HOLDINGS
Coal conversion technol-
ogies, environmental
aspects, sampling and
analytical techniques
Radian holdings -
OCR/ERDA literature
files
Through 1975 (beginning
of range depended on
specific topic)
Western energy resource
technologies including
coal gasification
All pertinent topics
including engineering,
chemical and analytical
titles
ON-LINE DATE BASES
Radian holdings -
EPA/ITA literature
files
Through present
Radian Library, "Books December 1973 -
and Reports: New present
Titles Received"
(bi-weekly)
Coal gasification, SRIM Profile
phenols - water pollution/
treatment, coking - water
pollution
1976 (12) - present
Coal processing and
chemistry (pollution
control technology
covered in manual search)
All pertinent topics
plus extra effort for
shift reaction and
methanation
Compendex (Engineering 1970 - 1976 (May)
Index)
NTIS/GRA
1964 - 1976 (19)
Continued
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Table A-l. INFORMATION SOURCES USED IN GENERAL LITERATURE SEARCH (Continued)
Subject Source Period of coverage
ON-LINE DATA BASES (Cont.)
On-going research in SSIE Through June 1976
coal chemistry, coal
processing, acid gas
cleanup, water treatment,
combined cycle
Coal resources; auxiliary Engineering Index 1968 - 1976 (May)
processes; air pollution
relevant to coal gasifi-
cation including HaS,
organic S, Nils, CN~, KCN,
and related industries;
water pollution control in
refineries, coke plants;
solid waste Including tars,
char, slag, ash; utiliza-1"
tion; noise
All pertinent topics Bureau of Mines 1970 - present
publications
SPECIAL SOURCES
All pertinent topics ORD Publications Through June 1976
published by EPA/ORD Summary (June 1976)
General EPA-ERC/RTP (outside) Through 1975
Publications Bibliog-
raphy, February 1976
Continued
-------
Table A-l. INFORMATION SOURCES USED IN GENERAL LITERATURE SEARCH (Continued)
Subject
Source
Period of coverage
SPECIAL SOURCES (Cont.)
Coal processing and
preparation
All topics
Selected coal gasifica-
tion processes and test
programs
Sampling and analysis
All pertinent topics
All pertinent topics
'All pertinent topics
U.S. Atomic Energy 1930 - 1974
Commission, Coal
Processing, Gasifica-
tion, Liquefaction,
Desulfurization. A
Bibliography. NTIS
Publication //TID-3349
Translations from the 1974 - 1975
Scientific Literature
- Annotated Bibliography
Exxon, Evaluation of -
Pollution Control in
Fossil Fuel Conversion
Processes. EPA 650/2-
74-009a-m plus Final
Report. EPA Contract
#68-02-0629
ASTM, Annual Book of
ASTM Standards
Published annually
AGA publications list Through 1976
Through June 1976
AIChE Publications
List
Publications of the
Staff Members and
Fellows of the Insti-
tute of Gas Technology
1941 - August 1975
Continued
-------
Table A-l. INFORMATION SOURCES USED IN GENERAL LITERATURE SEARCH (Continued)
Subject Source Period of coverage
SPECIAL SOURCES (Cont.)
EPRI sponsored reports EPRI Publications Through September 1976
List
Survey reports on various Noyes Data Corp. Through September 1976
technologies Publications List
Ui
-------
Table A-2. SUMMARY OF SPECIAL SEARCHES
Subject
Source
Period of coverage
Lurgi and RecCisol
processes
NTIS/GRA (on-line)
Compendex
1964-1976 (Issue 10)
1970-1976 (April)
Chemcon
1972-1976 (Issue 14)
i
ho
cr>
i
Chemical costs for S
recovery solvents
Sample handling for
aqueous organics
Contact with
manufacturers
Analytical Abstracts 1975
Chemcon
Chem 70/71
1972-1976 (September)
1970-1971
Regulations
Environmental Reporter Through present
Evaporation ponds
Radian holdings
Continued
-------
Table A-2. SUMMARY OF SPECIAL SEARCHES (Continued)
Subject Source Period of coverage
Dust control for coal Radian holdings, MRI
pretreatment report, RTI report
Solubility of gases in Radian holdings
methanol
-------
Table A-3. MAJOR LOW-BTU LIBRARY KEY WORD FILING REFERENCES
Background Information and Special Sources
Coal Industry and Pre-Gasification Technology
Chemistry of Coal and Related Substances
Coal Conversion Technology
Related Technologies
Utilization
Environmental and Health Effects
Gas Purification and Pollution Control Technology
Water Treatment
Solid Waste
Waste Disposal
Sampling and Analytical Data
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TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing}
1. REPORT NO.
EPA-600/7-77-142
2.
3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION NO,
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
Environmental Assessment of Low/Medium-Btu
Gasification: Annual Report
5. REPORT DATE
December 1977
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
E.G. Cavanaugh and W. C. Thomas
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
Radian Corporation
8500 Shoal Creek Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78757
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
EHE623A
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
68-02-2147, Exhibit A
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
EPA, Office of Research and Development
Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Annual; 3/76-10/77
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
EPA/600/13
is.SUPPLEMENTARY NOTESTjERL-RTP project officer is William J. Rhodes, Mail Drop 61,
919/541-2851.
16. ABSTRACT
The report summarizes completed and on-going work performed by Radian Corpora-
tion for the EPA in the area of environmental assessment of low- and medium-Btu
gasification of coal and its utilization. Main areas discussed are the current process
technology background, environmental data acquisition, and control technology
assessment. Information presented gives a general understanding of what has been
accomplished and what can be anticipated.
17.
KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTORS
b.lDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
c. COSATl Held/Group
Air Pollution
Coal
Coal Gasification
Assessments
Air Pollution Control
Stationary Sources
Environmental Assess-
ment
Industrial Gasifiers
13B
2 ID
13H
14B
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Unlimited
19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report}
Unclassified
21. NO. OF PAGES
35
20. SECURITY CLASS (This page)
Unclassified
22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73)
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