Overview of the Activities of the ICCI

The Illinois Clean Coal Institute (ICCI) was established in December 1982 to coordinate a comprehensive coal research and development program that addresses issues related to sulfur and other noxious elements in Illinois coal.  The current name, effective August 4, 1992, reflects the need to broaden research efforts to include all aspects of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, specifically, issues related to the control of air pollutants such as SO₂, NO_x and mercury, inherent chlorine effect on combustors, and disposal or use of solid by-products generated during the burning of Illinois coal.  The ICCI is under the purview of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) Office of Coal Development (OCD).  The OCD is responsible for all state coal-related grant  programs, including coal research and development, technology demonstrations, and industrial coal utilization efforts.    

The ICCI provides technical management services for the OCD coal research and development program and is a resource available to all within the state.  The ICCI program comprehensively addresses immediate problems that could influence mining cost, utilization, and markets for Illinois coal. Illinois coal has the advantage of a high heating value and high volatile matter, but has the disadvantage of high organic sulfur, high chlorine, and appreciable amounts of fine-grained pyrite.

Currently, the ICCI research program focuses on projects in the following areas: 

Combustion Systems

The aim of combustion systems research is to aid the production of electrical power using Illinois coal in an environmentally acceptable manner. Current research areas are:                         

•  coal combustion.

•  emissions control.

•  flue gas cleaning (FGD).

•  integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC).

•  effect of coal chlorine on boiler corrosion.

Coal Preparation

The ICCI is dedicated to the development of a cost effective coal cleaning technology.  Current research focuses on:

•  enhanced recovery of coal fines.

•  effective dewatering of the cleaned fine coal.

Coal Residuals Management

The coal residuals management program sponsors research in the utilization of large volumes of fly ash  in the production of value-added marketable products such as cement, bricks and tiles.  The residues that are being used include:

•  fly ash and bottom ash from the combustion of Illinois coal.

•  flue gas desulfurization sludge.

•  fluidized bed combustion residues.

•  coal prep plant wastes.

Business Practices and Mining Methods

In the last two decades the coal industry has done an outstanding job of improving productivity from about 8 tons/man-day to about 25-30 tons/man-day. It is the intent of the ICCI to develop research and development projects to reduce the ancillary costs in mining practices with improved technologies and more efficient operations away from the face cut area.

Annually, the ICCI staff prepares a Program Assessment and Planning Report for OCD consideration and approval.  This document is used to set ICCI policy and guide the overall research effort. Solicited and unsolicited research proposals are submitted to the ICCI and are subjected to both internal and external peer reviews to ensure quality and relevance.

To date, DCCA has contributed over $42 million to coal research in Illinois.  Since 1988, DCCA has also allocated $3.7 million to the coal development program.  Additionally, Illinois coal companies contributed almost $1 million between 1985 and 2001 to support basic and applied research. ICCI research programs have leveraged over $14 million from industry and other government agencies.  The ICCI continues to emphasize cost-sharing programs with other organizations in an attempt to maximize state funds for the creation of new markets as well as the continued use of Illinois coal.

For more information on the Illinois coal-related research program, please refer to the Reports area.