FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT

September 1, 1996, through August 31, 1997

Project Title: ILLINOIS BASIN COAL SAMPLE PROGRAM

ICCI Project Numbers: 96-1/7.1A-1

Principal Investigator: Chusak Chaven, Illinois State Geological Survey

Other Investigators: John M. Lytle, Joseph A. DeBarr, Kathleen M. Henry and Charles C. Rohl, Illinois State Geological Survey

Project Manager: Dr. Ken Ho, ICCI

ABSTRACT

The Illinois Basin Coal Sample Program (IBCSP) was established in 1983 by the Illinois State Geological Survey, at the request of the Illinois Coal Development Board through the Center for Research on Sulfur in Coal (CRSC). The objectives of the 1996-97 funding period were to: (1) maintain the twelve coal samples in the program in a nitrogen atmosphere to minimize weathering, (2) deliver the samples from the lots to requesters monthly, (3) continue updating the bibliographic information and provide such information to researchers upon request, (4) continue to publicize the program by means of poster exhibits, distribution of the Users Handbook at scientific meetings. A significant milestones for the IBCSP and the contract year was construction of a Home Page entitled, " Illinois Basin Coal Sample Program". It is being reviewed internally at ISGS after which it will be posted on the World Wide Web. During this contract year, 1,500 pounds of coal were delivered to fifty two requesters. Thirty six of these were from different governmental agencies, six requests were from states other than Illinois, and seven were from foreign countries. Porosity and surface area data for all of the coals in the program have been generated and will be incorporated into the IBCSP web page.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Illinois Basin Coal Sample Program, (IBCSP) in its fourteenth year, continues to maintain, deliver, and publicize the twelve lots of coals in the program to researchers worldwide. This program enables researchers to compare the results from their basic and applied research with colleagues who use the same coals. The program benefits not only Illinois researchers, but also leverages Illinois dollars by encouraging outside researchers who are funded by other sources to include Illinois Basin coals in their investigations. The IBCSP remains the primary source of reproducible coal samples to ICCI-funded projects. The value of a given coal increases as more information about the use and/or research done on that coal becomes available. This information, when included in the continually updated bibliographic database, becomes a beneficial tool for researchers worldwide.

During this funding period, 1,500 pounds of coal were delivered to fifty two requesters. Thirty six of these were from governmental agencies, six were from states other than Illinois, and seven were from foreign countries.

A significant milestones for the IBCSP and the contract year was the construction of a Home Page entitled, " Illinois Basin Coal Sample Program". It is being reviewed internally at ISGS after which it will be posted on the World Wide Web. The web page provides the information pertaining to the program which was in the Users Handbook completed last contract year. A World Wide Web page will be an effective means to disseminate the handbook information and publicize the program as well as provide an electronic references to researchers doing research on Illinois Basin coals. The temporary URL is: http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/isgsroot/IBCSP/intro.htm. New data on the physical properties concerning surface areas and porosity of all coal samples in the program have been generated.

The objectives of IBCSP project from September 1, 1996, to August 31, 1997 were:

to maintain the twelve samples in an inert atmosphere to minimize weathering;

to deliver monthly coal samples to requesters;

to update and distribute the bibliographic information on the coals in the program to requesters;

to publicize the program at various professional meetings by distribution of the IBCSP brochures and the Users Handbook, display of posters, and creation of a Home Page on the Internet.