Vol 60, No 8 (2017)

This review analyzes the economy of the European Community, the market for steel, metallurgical coal, and coke, and price trends. Successful coke producers are identified, and information is provided regarding the repair of coke batteries, research topics, and the curtailment of CO₂ emissions in coke production.

Microelements are present in coal in its organic matter, mineral impurities, and biochemical material. The microelement content in these components will be different, on account of the different forms of migration and access to the organic system. Estimation of the microelement content in the basic components of the coal is of interest in terms of assessing the rare-metal content in coal fields and extracting those metals. Statistical analysis of the microelement contents in different components of the coal is proposed.

The concentration, temperature, and velocity fields of the gas fluxes during gas combustion in the heating channel are calculated on the basis of the mathematical model for a coke oven with a dust-free cokedischarge system. The influence of the air excess and the gas dynamics in the furnace wall on the concentration of combustion products is studied.

Apolar hydrocarbon fractions of petroleum are widely used as flotation reagents in coal enrichment. The influence of preliminary coal treatment with spent motor oils on the wettability of the coal surface by water is studied. Modification of the oil with ozone and hydrogen peroxide and also by thermal oxidation increases the surface hydration of the treated coal and reduces the wetting of the coal in comparison with the initial apolar oil.

The existing biochemical system in the coke plant at Bhilai Steel Plant is inspected and assessed, with a view to introducing nitrification and denitrification, without reconstruction. It is shown that the existing biochemical-treatment facility will accommodate a nitrification and denitrification system capable of processing coke at a rate of 3.0–3.5 million t/yr. With reconstruction of the aeration system, the throughput may be increased to 4.8 million t/yr. That entails continuous dosing of alkaline reagent in the treated water. Recommendations are made for improved operation of the biochemical system.