ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Distributions of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
in Coal in China
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1
School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China
2
Low Carbon Energy Institute, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China
Submission date: 2018-01-28
Final revision date: 2018-04-01
Acceptance date: 2018-04-11
Online publication date: 2018-12-13
Publication date: 2019-02-18
Corresponding author
Qiyan Feng
China University of Mining and Technology
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(3):1665-1674
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ABSTRACT
Groundwater level rises rapidly when mine drainage systems stop functioning after mine closures.
Free-form polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in residual pillaring and abandoned mining
levels could continue to migrate because of eluviation leaching. Moreover, other aquifers are polluted
with mine water through mining-induced fractures, faults, and poorly sealed drill holes. Therefore,
the distributions of 16-PAHs in raw coal mined in China and the factors influencing these distributions
were analyzed to assist mine closures. The results showed that the average concentration of PAHs
was 10.540±7.973 μg/g in the raw coal samples, and PAHs with low molecular weights had the highest
abundances, accounting for 44% of the total PAH concentration obtained. The highest concentration
of 16-PAHs was observed in bituminous coals, followed by that in lignite, and the lowest is anthracite.
The influence factors analysis reveals that carbon content, volatile matter, H/C, and O/C have
a significant effect on PAH content in raw coals. The volatile matter and molar ratio of H/C play
a leading role in the changing process in 16 PAHs, accounting for more than 60% of the total
contribution.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.