FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT

September 1, 1997, through August 31, 1998

Project Title: ILLINOIS BASIN COAL SAMPLE PROGRAM

ICCI Project Number: 97-1/7.1A-1

Principal Investigator: William R. Roy, ISGS

Other Investigators: Kathleen M. Henry, John M. Lytle, ISGS

Project Manager: Dr. Ken Ho, ICCI

ABSTRACT

Coal is inherently a heterogenious material. Reproducible results between researchers can be difficult because of the variability in the chemical, mineralogical, and physical composition between coal samples. The costs of characterizing new samples for a given project can also be a potential barrier to research. Moreover, chemical composition of coal samples may change as a function of storage time. The purpose of the Illinois Basin Coal Sample Program (IBCSP) is to acquire, preserve, and distribute well-characterized coal samples to researches. The IBCSP was established in 1983, and has been supported continuously by the Center for Research on Sulfur in Coal, and then later by the Illinois Clean Coal Institute. During the contract year, the requests for coal samples were less than the previous year. There were seven requests for samples. A total of 133 pounds was provided to users at no cost. Two pounds of IBC-111 were requested by an out-of-state private company doing gasification research. Twenty pounds of IBC-102 were requested for an ICCI-funded research project in Illinois. Twenty pounds of IBC-101 were requested by an out-of-state investigator performing coal cleaning research.

The bibliographic database was updated via the results of input provided by IBCSP users and by an on-line literature search. Thirty publications were found that mentioned the use of IBCSP samples, during a literature search done by ISGS librarians. A mass mailing was initiated to obtain more information for the database. About 113 letters were sent out, but we received only four responses. There are now 64 outside (non-ICCI) publications in the database. The Home Page was also completed and may be accessed at http://denr1.isgs.uiuc.edu/isgsroot/ ibcsp/ intro.htm. This home page includes the goals of the IBCSP, detailed descriptions of each lot, information on coal cleaning and sampling, and information on how to request samples. Results of the annual QA/QC analyses conducted with eight of the coal samples indicated that they have not oxidized or deteriorated in any way while in storage since last year. The IBCSP serves a valuable function in coal research and warrants support for the coming year to continue to meet the goals of the program.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Illinois Basin Coal Sample Program, in its fifteenth year, continues to maintain, deliver, and publicize the twelve lots of coals in its 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 leverage 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.

The objectives of the IBCSP project from September 1, 1997, to August 31, 1998 were to:

• maintain and continue to enforce quality control on the twelve samples in the program
  
  
• deliver coal samples monthly to requesters, both domestic and international, based on their need;
  
  
• update and distribute the bibliographic information on the coals in the program to requesters;
  
  
• publicize the program at various professional meetings by distribution of IBCSP brochures and the Users Handbook, display of posters, and by maintaining a Home Page on the Internet.
  
  

During the contract year, the requests for coal samples were less than the previous year. There were seven requests for samples. A total of 133 pounds was provided to users at no cost. Two pounds of IBC-111 were requested by an out-of-state private company doing gasification research. Twenty pounds of IBC-102 were requested for an ICCI-funded research project in Illinois. Twenty pounds of IBC-101 were requested by an out-of-state investigator performing coal cleaning research.

The bibliographic database was updated via the results of input provided by IBCSP users and by an on-line literature search. Thirty publications were found that mentioned the use of IBCSP samples, during a literature search done by ISGS librarians. A mass mailing was initiated to obtain more information for the database. About 113 letters were sent out, but we received only four responses. There are now 64 outside (non-ICCI) publications in the database. The Home Page was also completed and may be accessed at http://denr1.isgs.uiuc.edu/isgsroot/ ibcsp/ intro.htm. This home page includes the goals of the IBCSP, detailed descriptions of each lot, information on coal cleaning and sampling, and information on how to request samples. Results of the annual QA/QC analyses conducted with eight of the coal samples indicated that they have not oxidized or deteriorated in any way while in storage since last year. The analytical results for C, H, and N were not available at the time of writing because of instrument failure.