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Coal. Typology, chemistry, physics and constitution
International Journal of Mineral Processing, 11 ( 1 9 8 3 ) 7 5 - - 7 7
75
Elsevier S c i e n c e P u b l i s h e r s B.V., A m s t e r d a m - - P r i n t e d in T h e N e t h e r l a n d s
Book Reviews
Coal. Typology, Chemistry, Physics and Constitution. D.M. van Krevelen, Coal Science and Technology Series, vol. 3. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1981, xviiv + 514pp., Dfl. 225.00. US $ 95.75. (hardcover), When a second edition of a b o o k is issued after twenty years, without any alterations, there must be certain reasons. In the preface, the author himself c o m m e n t s as follows: "When a b o o k has become classic, it should not be changed a n y m o r e " . This general opinion is shared by large groups of readers. In my review I shall try to point out, briefly, some of the most important features of the b o o k which summarize the technological and scientific heritage of several generations dealing with coal as a major source of energy. A publication usually covers the past, the present, and looks towards the future. In this respect the b o o k of Professor Van Krevelen is well balanced: it summarizes, it concerns and it predicts. Due to a broad vision and large experience of the author, particular topics of the b o o k are comprehensive, the data are originally ordered, and often mutually correlated. The first part, dealing with typology of coal, is a typical example: coal is defined and classified by different specialists as a rock, as a fuel, and as an organic solid, each emphasizing different features and assigning different priorities. The author synthesizes a unified image from fragments scattered in numerous references. This makes the subject coal more attractive to a larger number of students, scientists and technologists. In the late fifties, when the b o o k was written, the decline of solid fuels had begun. Despite of this, coal science has been formulated. Empirical evaluation techniques were partly replaced by exact chemical and physical measures. The process of quantification of coal properties is demonstrated in the second and third part of the b o o k entitled "Coal Chemistry" and "Coal Physics" respectively. In these chapters the stage of development of coal analysis, extraction, hydrogenation, oxidation and carbonisation, precursors of the modern coal conversion technologies, is reflected. For each chapter a suitable theoretical background is given. Particular processes are treated from the kinetic view-point and some mathematical models are given. Close dependance of coal properties on coal molecular structure is classified as a key-problem of Coal Physics. Great attention is paid to the interpretation of physical constants, their correlation, and their changes during treatment. X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy and magnetic resonance were recognized as powerful tools for correlating the coal properties and their fundamental background: Coal Constitution. This is demonstrated by linking coal structure to mechanical properties as well as chemical reactivity. The fourth part of the b o o k is dedicated to the interpretation of all data obtained on coal structure, physics and chemistry. Coal behaviour is recon-
76 structed by means of so-called "statistical structural parameters" (aromaticity, ring condensation and molecular size). Emphasis is put on structural models which provide a qualitative explanation of all, and quantitative explanation of m a n y of the properties of coal. In the appendix a short history of coal research is given -- subject to which Professor Van Krevelen has substantial contributions. His book remains popular and very useful, even after twenty years, to everybody who likes to join the family of coal scientists. R.A. KI)HNEL
(Delft)
Topics in Non-ferrous Extractive Metallurgy, A.R. Burkin. Society of Chemical Industry by Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1980). Volume 1 of Critical reports on applied chemistry 134 pp., £ 8.00 (paperback). In his i n t r o d u c t o r y remarks Burkin underlines the efforts made in recent years to imporve existing processes and to devise new ones in order to provide the tonnages of metals and minerals our industries require. As the sources of 'easy' and rich ores tend to disappear, new metallurgical processes must be developed to recover the metals contained in 'difficult' or low-grade ores. This book contains four articles reviewing the current state-of-the-art in the metallurgical recovery of four commodities: (1) G. Thorsen (Trondheim) : Extractive metallurgy of copper, (2) A.J. Monhemius (London): The extractive metallurgy of deep-sea manganese nodules, (3) A.R. Burkin (London) : Extractive metallurgy of uranium, (4) A.J. Monhemius (London) : The electrolytic production of zinc.
Copper: The review presented by Thorsen very clearly summarizes the pyro- and hydrometallurgical processes applicable to copper concentrates and copper ores. It also contains a number of useful references covering this traditionally well covered subject. Manganese nodules: After reading Monhemius' introduction one may wonder which of the political, environmental, mining, metallurgical and economical problems to be resolved will be the most difficult to overcome and whether the beneficiation of deep sea nodules will ever take place in a foreseeable future. Four companies have carried out extensive studies on this subject and taken a number of patents which are the main source of available literature: K e n n e c o t t Copper Corp., Deepsea Ventures Inc., International Nickel Comp. and M~tallurgie Hoboken-Overpelt. This review will constitute a good reference document.
75
Elsevier S c i e n c e P u b l i s h e r s B.V., A m s t e r d a m - - P r i n t e d in T h e N e t h e r l a n d s
Book Reviews
Coal. Typology, Chemistry, Physics and Constitution. D.M. van Krevelen, Coal Science and Technology Series, vol. 3. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1981, xviiv + 514pp., Dfl. 225.00. US $ 95.75. (hardcover), When a second edition of a b o o k is issued after twenty years, without any alterations, there must be certain reasons. In the preface, the author himself c o m m e n t s as follows: "When a b o o k has become classic, it should not be changed a n y m o r e " . This general opinion is shared by large groups of readers. In my review I shall try to point out, briefly, some of the most important features of the b o o k which summarize the technological and scientific heritage of several generations dealing with coal as a major source of energy. A publication usually covers the past, the present, and looks towards the future. In this respect the b o o k of Professor Van Krevelen is well balanced: it summarizes, it concerns and it predicts. Due to a broad vision and large experience of the author, particular topics of the b o o k are comprehensive, the data are originally ordered, and often mutually correlated. The first part, dealing with typology of coal, is a typical example: coal is defined and classified by different specialists as a rock, as a fuel, and as an organic solid, each emphasizing different features and assigning different priorities. The author synthesizes a unified image from fragments scattered in numerous references. This makes the subject coal more attractive to a larger number of students, scientists and technologists. In the late fifties, when the b o o k was written, the decline of solid fuels had begun. Despite of this, coal science has been formulated. Empirical evaluation techniques were partly replaced by exact chemical and physical measures. The process of quantification of coal properties is demonstrated in the second and third part of the b o o k entitled "Coal Chemistry" and "Coal Physics" respectively. In these chapters the stage of development of coal analysis, extraction, hydrogenation, oxidation and carbonisation, precursors of the modern coal conversion technologies, is reflected. For each chapter a suitable theoretical background is given. Particular processes are treated from the kinetic view-point and some mathematical models are given. Close dependance of coal properties on coal molecular structure is classified as a key-problem of Coal Physics. Great attention is paid to the interpretation of physical constants, their correlation, and their changes during treatment. X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy and magnetic resonance were recognized as powerful tools for correlating the coal properties and their fundamental background: Coal Constitution. This is demonstrated by linking coal structure to mechanical properties as well as chemical reactivity. The fourth part of the b o o k is dedicated to the interpretation of all data obtained on coal structure, physics and chemistry. Coal behaviour is recon-
76 structed by means of so-called "statistical structural parameters" (aromaticity, ring condensation and molecular size). Emphasis is put on structural models which provide a qualitative explanation of all, and quantitative explanation of m a n y of the properties of coal. In the appendix a short history of coal research is given -- subject to which Professor Van Krevelen has substantial contributions. His book remains popular and very useful, even after twenty years, to everybody who likes to join the family of coal scientists. R.A. KI)HNEL
(Delft)
Topics in Non-ferrous Extractive Metallurgy, A.R. Burkin. Society of Chemical Industry by Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1980). Volume 1 of Critical reports on applied chemistry 134 pp., £ 8.00 (paperback). In his i n t r o d u c t o r y remarks Burkin underlines the efforts made in recent years to imporve existing processes and to devise new ones in order to provide the tonnages of metals and minerals our industries require. As the sources of 'easy' and rich ores tend to disappear, new metallurgical processes must be developed to recover the metals contained in 'difficult' or low-grade ores. This book contains four articles reviewing the current state-of-the-art in the metallurgical recovery of four commodities: (1) G. Thorsen (Trondheim) : Extractive metallurgy of copper, (2) A.J. Monhemius (London): The extractive metallurgy of deep-sea manganese nodules, (3) A.R. Burkin (London) : Extractive metallurgy of uranium, (4) A.J. Monhemius (London) : The electrolytic production of zinc.
Copper: The review presented by Thorsen very clearly summarizes the pyro- and hydrometallurgical processes applicable to copper concentrates and copper ores. It also contains a number of useful references covering this traditionally well covered subject. Manganese nodules: After reading Monhemius' introduction one may wonder which of the political, environmental, mining, metallurgical and economical problems to be resolved will be the most difficult to overcome and whether the beneficiation of deep sea nodules will ever take place in a foreseeable future. Four companies have carried out extensive studies on this subject and taken a number of patents which are the main source of available literature: K e n n e c o t t Copper Corp., Deepsea Ventures Inc., International Nickel Comp. and M~tallurgie Hoboken-Overpelt. This review will constitute a good reference document.