Two Nigerian coals, Lafia-Obi and Chikila were blended in the mass ratio of 70:30 with
imported American and Polish coking coals. Proximate analysis, free swelling index, Ruhr
dilatometer and Gieseler plastometer were used in assessing the coking qualities of both the
single coals and the blends. The results show that the blends are lower in moisture and ash
contents; higher in volatile matter and fixed carbon than the single Nigerian coals. The
rheological parameters revealed superiority in thermo-plastic properties of the blends over the
unblended local coals. Lafia-Obi/Foreign coals blends possess lower ash and better rheological
properties compared to Chikila/Foreign coal composites which have high ash and poor
rheological properties. These together suggest that amongst the two Nigerian coals, Lafia-Obi is
superior for blending with the foreign ones in metallurgical coke production.
References
[1]
Ikoku, C., 1984, “Chemistry in the National Economy.” Fourth Dimension, Enugu, p. 100
[2]
Ikoku, C., 1984, Coal in the energy midst of Nigeria, In: Nigerian coal: a resource for
energy and investments, pp. 25 – 29, (Okolo, H. C. and Mkpadi M. C., Eds.), RMRDC, Abuja.
[3]
Nigerian Coal Corporation Information Manual, 1997, Seventh OAU/AEC Trade Fair
[4]
Obaje, N. G., 1997, “Petrographic evaluation of the coking potential of the Cretaceous
Obi/Lafia coal deposits in the Benue trough of Nigeria.” Z. angew Geol., Vol. 43, No. 4
[5]
Ward, C. R., 2002, Coal geology, In: Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology, pp. 45-76. Academic Press, New York
[6]
Taylor, G. H., Teichmuller, T. M., Davis, A., Diessel, R. L. and Robert, P., 1998, Organic Petrology, Borntrager, Berlin, pp. 519-615
[7]
Walker, R., Mastalerz, M., and Padgett, P., 2001, “Quality of selected coal seams from Indiana: Implications for carbonization.” Int. J. of Coal Geol., Vol. 47, pp. 277-288
[8]
Cornells, J. K., Mohammed, A. K. and Dacid, A. C., 2003, Medium volatile coal, the
solution for coke blends with reduced low-volatile coal content, AISE Steel Technology, pp. 42-48
[9]
Valia, H. S., and Mastalerz, M., 2004, Indiana Coals and the steel Industry, Indiana Geol. Survey Special Report, 64
[10]
Diez, M. A., Alvarez, R. and Barriocanal, C., 2002, “Coal for metallurgical coke production: Prediction of coke quality and future requirements for coke making.” Int. J. Coal Geol., Vol. 50, pp. 289-412
[11]
Gransden, J, Price, J., 1997, Geological Fieldwork, British Columbia Geological Survey Branch, paper 1998-1
[12]
Aderonpe, W. I. A., 1996, Coal Blending: application to Nigerian coals for the iron and steel industries, In: Nigerian Coal: A resource for energy and investments, pp. 125 – 137, (Okolo, H. C. and Mkpadi, M. C., Eds), RMRDC, Abuja
[13]
Afonja, A. A., 1996, Production of metallurgical coke from non–coking coals, In: , In:
Nigerian Coal: A resource for energy and investments, pp. 89 – 105, (Okolo, H. C. and Mkpadi, M. C., Eds), RMRDC, Abuja
[14]
American Society for Testing and Materials. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, 1992,
Section 5: Petroleum Products, Lubricants and Fossil Fuels. 5.05: Gaseous Fuels; Coal and Coke
[15]
International Energy Agency (IEA)/Organization for Energy Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2002, Coal in the energy supply of India, Paris, p. 28
[16]
Bustin, R. M., Cameron, A. R., Greve, D. A. and Kalkreuth, W. D., 1985, Coal Petrology: Its Principles, methods and applications. Geological Association of Canada. Course Notes 3, 230
[17]
Jauro, A., Agho, M. O., Abayeh, O. J., Obaje, N. G., and Abubakar, M. B., 2008,
“Petrographic Studies and Coking Properties of Lamza, Chikila and Lafia-Obi Coals of the Benue Trough.” Journal of Mining and Geology, Vol. 44, pp. 11-18
[18]
Akpabio, I. O., 1998, “Thermal properties of some Nigerian coals.” Journal of Pure and Applied Science Vol. 1, pp. 87 – 92
[19]
Price, J., Gransden, J., and Hampel, K., 1997, Microscopy, Chemistry and Rheology tools to determine Coal and Coke Characteristics. 1st McMaster’s cokemaking course. McMaster’s University Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, 4.1-4.74
[20]
Peng Chen., 2002, “Petrographic Characteristics of Chinese coals and their applications in coal Utilization Processes.” Fuel, Vol. 81, pp. 11-12
[21]
Barriocanal, C., Patrick, J. W., and Walker, A., 1997, “The laboratory identification of dangerously coking coals.” Fuel, Vol. 77, pp. 881-884
