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Synthetic fossil fuel technology — results of health and environmental studies
Book Reviews Synthetic Fossil Fuel Technology - Results of Health Environmental Studies K. E. Cowser Butterworths, 1984, pp 592, f 95.00, ISBN 0205406 241
The United States is well endowed with abundant supplies of coal and oil shale. However, if the U.S. were to build a synthetic fuel industry to supply as much as 10% of its energy needs based on these fossil fuels, a vast new industrial complex of many plants (for coal gasification, coal liquefaction and shale processing) would have to be created. In addition of course, many mines and other installations would be needed. The scale of such operations could certainly involve environmental socioeconomic and problems as well as health risks to operating personnel and those living nearby. In the late 1970s when the need for large scale synthetic fuel manufacture appeared to be imminent, efforts were made parallel to the process development work to determine what these impacts would be. This meant basing studies on processes still under development and on fuel products, waste products, etc., not necessarily typical of the ultimate commercial operations. The book, which is the proceedings of a symposium on Health and Environmental Studies of Synfuel processes, gives a snapshot of the state of knowledge of thesematters in 1982. The book is divided into four sections: technology oriented studies; toxicology; transport, transformation and fate; and research opportunities for the future. The first section deals with many of the various synthetic fuel technologies (coal liquefaction, coal gasification, and shale oil production) and what is known about the hazards and environmental impacts associated with them. Only very limited and preliminary information is available in many cases. Where possible, information was supplemented with information from abroad (Scotland and Estonia for oil shale, and Yugoslavia for coal gasification). The second section deals with many of the in uitro and in viva assays in use or under development and the results of
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these on synfuel fractions and waste streams. The relevance of these tests for predicting effects in humans is still undemonstrated. However, the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of the high boiling fractions of liquid synfuels and the basic or amine containing components are fairly clearly indicated. Interesting developments also described are new methods for monitoring people exposed in the workplace or elsewhere for genetic damage through sperm, urine or other tests. The third section deals with ways in which contaminants from synfuel processes are transformed in the environment or within organisms. Many components ofsynfuels are non-toxic, but are metabolized into toxic substances in
the organisms. It is also shown how synfuel products or biproducts can enter the food chains through food animals or plants. The fourth and last section covers research directions for the future. The book is based on 1982 knowledge, and some significant work has been published after that date. However, development of many synfuel processes and associated studies stopped or slowed perceptibly after that date. It therefore still represents quite a useful if not completely up to date compilation of the status of work on the health effects and environmental impacts of synthetic fuel processes. William H. Calkins
Powder Technology: Volume 40 Elsevier Sequoia S.A., Lausanne, 1984, PP 368 The journal ‘Powder Technology’ took an unusual step towards the end of 1984 in devoting three issues to a single topic, namely, coal fine particle technology. These three issues comprise a single bound volume which contains seven review papers and 23 papers describing original research. The well written, easy to read review papers cover a wide range of topics including coal characterization, beneficiation, oil agglomeration, residual saturation and dewatering, liquefaction, gas cleaning and on-line measurement techniques. The first review paper is entitled physical characterization of coal but this title does not accurately reflect the contents of the review which are almost entirely devoted to coal porosity. As a review of coal porosity and the porous structure of coal it is an excellent introduction to the subject. The final review paper on on-line measurement techniques makes no pretence to being no more than an introduction to the listed
bibliography and this, together with the other review papers, gives a very good coverage of references in the various topics described. The research papers also cover a similar wide range of subject topics but in greater detail, appropriate to the narrower objectives of individual research projects. Under the guidance of the guest editor, J. Van Brake (Delft University of Technology) this has formed a useful publication which defines well the state of the art in coal line particle processing, and I am sure it will prove most useful to all researchers in the field. In many ways the method of publication is novel and a good way of producing the contents quickly onto the library shelf, but as the volume may suffer considerable handling in the coming years it may have been better if it had been produced as a hard backed copy. P. J. Lloyd and J. W Patrick
The United States is well endowed with abundant supplies of coal and oil shale. However, if the U.S. were to build a synthetic fuel industry to supply as much as 10% of its energy needs based on these fossil fuels, a vast new industrial complex of many plants (for coal gasification, coal liquefaction and shale processing) would have to be created. In addition of course, many mines and other installations would be needed. The scale of such operations could certainly involve environmental socioeconomic and problems as well as health risks to operating personnel and those living nearby. In the late 1970s when the need for large scale synthetic fuel manufacture appeared to be imminent, efforts were made parallel to the process development work to determine what these impacts would be. This meant basing studies on processes still under development and on fuel products, waste products, etc., not necessarily typical of the ultimate commercial operations. The book, which is the proceedings of a symposium on Health and Environmental Studies of Synfuel processes, gives a snapshot of the state of knowledge of thesematters in 1982. The book is divided into four sections: technology oriented studies; toxicology; transport, transformation and fate; and research opportunities for the future. The first section deals with many of the various synthetic fuel technologies (coal liquefaction, coal gasification, and shale oil production) and what is known about the hazards and environmental impacts associated with them. Only very limited and preliminary information is available in many cases. Where possible, information was supplemented with information from abroad (Scotland and Estonia for oil shale, and Yugoslavia for coal gasification). The second section deals with many of the in uitro and in viva assays in use or under development and the results of
302
FUEL, 1986, Vol 65, February
and
these on synfuel fractions and waste streams. The relevance of these tests for predicting effects in humans is still undemonstrated. However, the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of the high boiling fractions of liquid synfuels and the basic or amine containing components are fairly clearly indicated. Interesting developments also described are new methods for monitoring people exposed in the workplace or elsewhere for genetic damage through sperm, urine or other tests. The third section deals with ways in which contaminants from synfuel processes are transformed in the environment or within organisms. Many components ofsynfuels are non-toxic, but are metabolized into toxic substances in
the organisms. It is also shown how synfuel products or biproducts can enter the food chains through food animals or plants. The fourth and last section covers research directions for the future. The book is based on 1982 knowledge, and some significant work has been published after that date. However, development of many synfuel processes and associated studies stopped or slowed perceptibly after that date. It therefore still represents quite a useful if not completely up to date compilation of the status of work on the health effects and environmental impacts of synthetic fuel processes. William H. Calkins
Powder Technology: Volume 40 Elsevier Sequoia S.A., Lausanne, 1984, PP 368 The journal ‘Powder Technology’ took an unusual step towards the end of 1984 in devoting three issues to a single topic, namely, coal fine particle technology. These three issues comprise a single bound volume which contains seven review papers and 23 papers describing original research. The well written, easy to read review papers cover a wide range of topics including coal characterization, beneficiation, oil agglomeration, residual saturation and dewatering, liquefaction, gas cleaning and on-line measurement techniques. The first review paper is entitled physical characterization of coal but this title does not accurately reflect the contents of the review which are almost entirely devoted to coal porosity. As a review of coal porosity and the porous structure of coal it is an excellent introduction to the subject. The final review paper on on-line measurement techniques makes no pretence to being no more than an introduction to the listed
bibliography and this, together with the other review papers, gives a very good coverage of references in the various topics described. The research papers also cover a similar wide range of subject topics but in greater detail, appropriate to the narrower objectives of individual research projects. Under the guidance of the guest editor, J. Van Brake (Delft University of Technology) this has formed a useful publication which defines well the state of the art in coal line particle processing, and I am sure it will prove most useful to all researchers in the field. In many ways the method of publication is novel and a good way of producing the contents quickly onto the library shelf, but as the volume may suffer considerable handling in the coming years it may have been better if it had been produced as a hard backed copy. P. J. Lloyd and J. W Patrick