Coal Pollution Mitigation, sometimes also known as Clean Coal, is a series of systems and technologies that seek to mitigate (reduce harmful or unpleasant chemicals) health and environmental impact of coal; in particular air pollution from coal-fired power stations, and from coal burnt by heavy industry. Clean Coal primarily focuses on removing sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), the most important gasses which cause acid rain; and particulates which cause visible air pollution, illness, and premature deaths. It also reduces fly ash and reduces emissions of radioactive materials. Mercury emissions can be reduced up to 95%. Capturing carbon dioxide emissions from coal is also being pursued.
Description
When you burn coal, you release various chemicals into the air such as; Mercury, lead and other heavy metals, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which contributes to acid rain and respiratory illnesses, particulates, which contributes to smog, haze and respiratory illness as well and lung disease, carbon dioxide (CO2) (which is the primary greenhouse gas produce from burning fossil fuels), and finally radioactive materials, such as uranium for the coal.
Coal pollution mitigation is a series of systems and technologies that seek to mitigate the health and environmental impact of coal; in particular air pollution from coal-fired power stand from coal burnt by heavy industry. Primarily focuses on sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), the most important gasses which cause acid rain; and particulates which cause visible air pollution, illness and premature deaths.
SO2 can be removed by flue-gas desulfurization and NO2 by selective catalytic reduction (SCR). Particulates can be removed with electrostatic precipitators. Although perhaps less efficient, wet scrubbers can remove both gasses and particulates. Reducing fly ash reduces emissions of radioactive materials. Mercury emissions can be reduced up to 95%. Capturing carbon dioxide emissions from coal a process in which a relatively pure stream of carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial sources is separated, treated and transported to a long-term storage location.: 2221
Prior terminology
The industry term clean coal is increasingly used in reference to carbon capture and storage, an advanced theoretical process that would eliminate or significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from coal-based plants and permanently sequester them. More generally, the term has been found in modern usage to describe technologies designed to enhance both the efficiency and the environmental acceptability of coal extraction, preparation, and use.
U.S. Senate Bill 911 in April, 1987, defined clean coal technology as follows:
"The term clean coal technology means any technology...deployed at a new or existing facility which will achieve significant reductions in air emissions of sulfur dioxide or oxides of nitrogen associated with the utilization of coal in the generation of electricity."
Before being adopted in this fashion, historically clean coal was used to refer to clean-burning coal with low levels of impurities, though this term faded after rates of domestic coal usage dropped. The term appeared in a speech to mine workers in 1918, in context indicating coal that was "free of dirt and impurities." In the early 20th century, prior to World War II, clean coal (also called "smokeless coal") generally referred to anthracite and high-grade bituminous coal, used for cooking and home heating. In its original usage, the term Clean Coal was used to refer to technologies that were designed to reduce emission of pollutants associated with burning coal, such as washing coal at the mine. This step removes some of the sulfur and other contaminants, including rocks and soil. This makes coal cleaner and cheaper to transport. More recently, the definition of clean coal has been expanded to include carbon capture and storage. Clean coal technology usually addresses atmospheric problems resulting from burning coal. Historically, the primary focus was on and , the most important gases in causation of acid rain, and particulates which cause visible air pollution and have deleterious effects on human health.