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Algae can reduce coal-related CO2 emissions

13th March 2015

By: Bruce Montiea

Creamer Media Reporter

  

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South Africa can benefit from using algae and related plants for carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction and cofiring while facilitating mine rehabilitation, says coal expert and University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering Professor Rosemary Falcon.

The research into using algae and related plants for CO2 reduction and cofiring is at an advanced stage at research organisation the National Research Foundation-funded Clean Coal Technology Centre at Wits, Falcon says, adding that “this is significant for not only coal mining but also the country, given the low carbon economy that the country is entering into”.

A group of postgraduate researchers at the centre, under Falcon’s guidance, are pursuing key topics regarding cleaner coal, and the more efficient use of coal “leading to reduced emissions and increased security of energy supply and sustainable growth for the country going forward,” says Falcon.

She maintains that South Africans should be ready to increasingly use clean coal technologies, such as algae and related advanced power plants, to combat pollution, as these processes can potentially lead to achieving zero emissions in the medium to long term.

Falcon, who is also a member of the Fossil Fuel Foundation, tells Mining Weekly that the algae growth process leads to CO2 in the air being removed and replaced with oxygen – a big advantage that the country needs to exploit.

Clean Coal
Falcon says using fluidised-bed combustion (FBC) technology is vital for the future of the country since it can use almost any combustible material – poor-quality coal, municipal waste and all plant offcuts – to generate products such as synthetic fuels, steam, hot gas and electricity.

“FBC can play a serious role in reducing South Africa’s carbon emissions and providing energy security, while using materials currently not usable in existing power plants.”

Falcon says South African expertise in clean coal beneficiation has developed to a high degree. “We have the highest levels of clean coal beneficiation in the world which is essential for current coal-fired power plants. Cleaner or better-grade coals lead to higher process efficiencies and fewer emissions.”

She adds that South African coals are vastly different from that of other countries, to the extent that much of the imported equipment using coal as fuel to operate has to be modified to be able to use South Africa’s low-grade coals.

The research at the Clean Coal Technology Centre also includes pursuing in-depth analyses of South Africa’s low-grade coal and its potential benefits, advancing developments relating to circulating fluidised-bed boilers, as well as increasing the efficiency of pulverised fuel boilers, and using advanced carbon reductants for the metallurgical industry, concludes Falcon.

Edited by Leandi Kolver
Creamer Media Deputy Editor

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