Problems with CoalProblems with Coal

Problems with Coal…Problems with Coal… Contains Contains sulfursulfur causing causing

air pollution when air pollution when burned. burned.

Makes acid rain!Makes acid rain!

High amounts of air High amounts of air pollution (CO2 and pollution (CO2 and SO2) are given off by SO2) are given off by coal power plants.coal power plants.

Causes Causes moremore air air pollution when burned pollution when burned than any other fossil than any other fossil fuelfuel

In your books (pg 436) describe In your books (pg 436) describe each of the following…each of the following…

PeatPeat

LigniteLignite

SubbituminousSubbituminous

BituminousBituminous

AnthraciteAnthracite

Coke (on back of notes sheet)Coke (on back of notes sheet)

Coal MiningCoal Mining Underground miningUnderground mining::

dangerous, collapsed dangerous, collapsed mines, fires, gas mines, fires, gas explosions, and black explosions, and black lung (lungs are coated lung (lungs are coated in coal dust)in coal dust)

Strip MiningStrip Mining - the - the overlying layer of overlying layer of rock is stripped to get rock is stripped to get to the coal from the to the coal from the surface. surface.

this is cheaper, safer, this is cheaper, safer, and yields 3x’s more and yields 3x’s more coal than underground coal than underground miningmining

Centrailia and an ExplosionCentrailia and an Explosion

Centralia Video

Mine Explosion Video

Problems with Strip MiningProblems with Strip Mining

Less than one-half of the Less than one-half of the mines have been mines have been reclaimed…reclaimed…

restored to their natural staterestored to their natural state Acid Mine DrainageAcid Mine Drainage is is

when water reacts with when water reacts with mineral in the open mine mineral in the open mine forming highly acidic water forming highly acidic water pollution the environment pollution the environment killing aquatic organisms killing aquatic organisms and waterfowland waterfowl

Solutions to Coal UseSolutions to Coal Use Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 requires that mined land Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 requires that mined land

be restored to its primary use (forest, field, etc.)be restored to its primary use (forest, field, etc.)

Clean Air Act of 1990 forces companies to reduce the emissions Clean Air Act of 1990 forces companies to reduce the emissions (release) of SO2 and NO2 when burning coal(release) of SO2 and NO2 when burning coal

More coal in this country is coming from the mid-west instead of the More coal in this country is coming from the mid-west instead of the east because it contains less sulfureast because it contains less sulfur

New technologies are being invented to reduce air pollutants from New technologies are being invented to reduce air pollutants from coal (scrubber - sprays the gas with lime or calcium water binding the coal (scrubber - sprays the gas with lime or calcium water binding the SO2, causing it to settle out – expensive process to install)SO2, causing it to settle out – expensive process to install)

***Using natural gas is cleaner because it releases one-half the CO2 ***Using natural gas is cleaner because it releases one-half the CO2 and SO2 of coaland SO2 of coal

Synthetic FuelsSynthetic Fuels

Fuels produced by chemically Fuels produced by chemically changing fossil fuels like coal. They changing fossil fuels like coal. They are cleaner burningare cleaner burning

In your books, pg 446, find the notes In your books, pg 446, find the notes for…for…

Liquid CoalLiquid CoalCoal GasCoal GasOil ShaleOil Shale

FrackingFracking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pCvdOg0Cec&feature=fvstv=1pCvdOg0Cec&feature=fvst