Chemical and toxicological evaluation of underground coal gasification (UCG) effluents. The coal rank effect

• Two UCG trials with distinct coal samples (lignite and hard coal) were conducted.
• Formation of organic and inorganic contaminants in UCG condenser water was investigated along with toxicity bioassays based on Vibrio fischeri bacteria.
• A considerable effect of the coal rank on the chemical composition and toxicity of the UCG condensates was revealed.
• All of the tested UCG condensates were extremely toxic to V. fischeri and the average toxicity level for the hard coal condensates was approximately 56% higher than that obtained for the lignite.
• High positive correlation between toxicity and concentrations of free ammonia, phenols and certain heavy metals was observed.

The effect of coal rank on the composition and toxicity of water effluents resulting from two underground coal gasification experiments with distinct coal samples (lignite and hard coal) was investigated. A broad range of organic and inorganic parameters was determined in the sampled condensates. The physicochemical tests were supplemented by toxicity bioassays based on the luminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri as the test organism. The principal component analysis and Pearson correlation analysis were adopted to assist in the interpretation of the raw experimental data, and the multiple regression statistical method was subsequently employed to enable predictions of the toxicity based on the values of the selected parameters. Significant differences in the qualitative and quantitative description of the contamination profiles were identified for both types of coal under study. Independent of the coal rank, the most characteristic organic components of the studied condensates were phenols, naphthalene and benzene. In the inorganic array, ammonia, sulphates and selected heavy metals and metalloids were identified as the dominant constituents. Except for benzene with its alkyl homologues (BTEX), selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), zinc and selenium, the values of the remaining parameters were considerably greater for the hard coal condensates. The studies revealed that all of the tested UCG condensates were extremely toxic to V. fischeri; however, the average toxicity level for the hard coal condensates was approximately 56% higher than that obtained for the lignite. The statistical analysis provided results supporting that the toxicity of the condensates was most positively correlated with the concentrations of free ammonia, phenols and certain heavy metals.