Abstract |
The report assesses the capability, cost, and environmental effects of coal cleaning to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions. It is the culmination of a 4-year program directed by EPA's AEERL. The report includes evaluations of SO2 emission reductions by cleaning coals on a state and regional basis; descriptions of coal cleaning equipment; calculation of environmental tradeoffs; development of algorithms for coal cleaning capital costs, operation and maintenance costs, and cost benefits; brief descriptions of advanced coal cleaning processes; summaries of coal and utility industry trends relative to coal cleaning; and development of a utility-system-based model for calculating SO2 emission compliance costs using coal cleaning, blending, and flue gas desulfurization options. The report notes that 85% of the SO2 emission reductions produced by coal cleaning would be attained from coals in the Northern Appalachian and Eastern Midwest regions. |