Author Description

These proceedings comprise peer-reviewed articles summarizing the most recent progress made by many of the leaders of high-sulfur coal research and development in the past two years. Four papers cover the conversion of coals to liquid and gaseous products both as a means of removing sulfur and for increasing the utility and value of the coal. Improvements in coal cleaning technology by application of biological, physical and chemical processes, as well as combinations of these methods are reported. Methods of beneficiation including the emerging electrochemical and ultrasonic approaches are also presented. Several papers cover the fundamentals and applications of flotation as a technique for separating the sulfur from the carbon content of coal once the sulfur has been liberated from the coal matrix. One paper describes a microbial process for removing solubilized iron and sulfur (as sulfate) that have been liberated from coal. Eight contributions deal with the various aspects of cleaning potential atmospheric contaminants from coal combustion gasses.The book will be of particular interest and benefit to researchers, graduate students and all persons involved in coal production, processing and utilization; public policy making and administration related to energy conservation, economic development, and environmental protection; and investors in industry and new technology.