Uses :
- Coal is source of energy and raw material for many Chemical Industries. ‘
- It provides many by-products i.e., tar, napthaline, ammonia gas, coal gas, benezol etc.
- These are used in the manufacture of synthetic fibres, rubber, plastic, explosives, dyes and insecticides.
Types : On the basis of its Carbon content, colour and heating intensity etc.
They are as follows:
1. Anthracite
2. Bituminous
3. Lignite
4. Peat.
1. Anthracite : This is the best variety of coal. It contains 80-90 percent of Carbon.
- It is very hard, compact and black in colour.
- It produce more heat than any other form of coal.
- It ignites slowly and bums with a nice short blue flame without producing smoke.
- It is found in Jammu and Kashmir and it is mainly used for Central heating, steam in ship and boilers.
2. Bituminous:
- It contains 50-80 percent of Carbon and found in abundance.
- It is relatively hard and black in colour.
- Mainly it is used in steel industry and thermal power generation.
3. Lignite:
- It is low grade Variety of coal.
- It contains only 40-55 percent of Carbon.
- Its colour is dark to black brown.
- It will give more ash and moisture generation of thermal power, fertilizers and gas.
4. Peat:
- It contains less than 40 percent of Carbon. Therefore it is inferior in quality.
- It gives less heat, but releases more smoke, and a lot of ash after burning.
- So it is mainly used in the thermal power plants and fertilizer industries.