Recent development in lignite investigation （褐煤的调查最近的发展）.pdfVIP

Recent development in lignite investigation ´ ´∗ ´† Lucia Zavodska - Juraj Lesny HU ISSN 1418-7108: HEJ Manuscript no.: ENV-061026-A Abstract Recently lignite represents mainly and alternatively exploited fuel of lower heating value. Similarly to other naturally occurring raw materials the economical efficiency of lignite mining is strongly influenced by plenty of different economical, technological as well as political factors, all of which are subjects of permanent changes. Fossil materials, including lignite, in general possess some specific properties (as a consequences of their com- position), which enable their miscellaneous and often economically very valuable non-energetic utilization. As a rule quantitatively as well as qualitatively rich humic substance and low toxic and heavy metal content, specific physical structure, not negligible sorption properties, suitable sensorial features allow lignite usage as a fertiliser, soil conditioner, bioregulator, regulator of humidity, metal sorbent or agrochemical agent. The presented paper intends to contribute to summarization of recent knowledge concerning lignite - a natural raw material of huge amount and of permanently rising importance. 1 Introduction Coal is the compressed remains of tropical and subtropical plants, mainly those of the Carboniferous and Permian Periods. Changes in the world climatic pattern explain why coal occurs in all continents, even Antarctica. Coal formation began when plant debris accumulated in swamps, partially decomposing and forming peat layers. A rise in see level or land subsidence buried these layers below marine sediments, whose weig