The report gives results of an environmental evaluation of 38 screening test runs using a laboratory-scale, fixed-bed coal gasifier to study pollutants generated during the gasification of various coals. Pollutants were identified and quantitative analyses performed for tars, aqueous condensates, volatile organics, primary gases, and reactor residues. Tar partition fractions were also generated and studied for each coal providing distributions of insolubles, organic acids and bases, polar and nonpolar neutrals, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Showing the greatest potential for adverse health effects are: oxygen-containing species and PNAs in the tars and aqueous condensates; carbon monoxide, benzene, and hydrogen sulfide in the primary gas streams; and certain trace elements in the reactor residues. Bioassays of various coal gasification effluents showed the crude tars and selected tar fractions to have a potentially mutagenic character.

"Research Triangle Institute." "August 1979." Includes bibliographical references. "Grant no. R804979, program element no. EHE623A."