run-of-mine coal
Quick Summary
Run-of-mine (ROM) coal is coal that comes directly from a mine. It often contains impurities like rock, clay, and sulfur, which are acquired during the coal's formation and the mining process itself. Coal preparation is the process of converting ROM coal into marketable products by removing these impurities.1234
The goal of coal preparation is to meet buyer specifications for various uses, such as utility combustion or gasification. This involves several steps, including characterization (examining the ROM coal), liberation (breaking down the coal to separate impurities), separation (removing the impurities), and disposition (handling the final products and waste). Cleaning the coal increases its heating value and helps meet air-pollution regulations by removing sulfur.134
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