Environmental characterization of the Texaco Coal-Gasification Process at Ruhrkohle/Ruhrchemie in Oberhausen-Holten, Federal Republic of Germany. Final report

The results of a limited environmental characterization of solid and liquid discharges from the Ruhrkohle/Ruhrchemie Coal Gasification Pilot Plant in Oberhausen, Federal Republic of Germany are presented. The work was conducted by Radian Corporation with portions funded by the Tennessee Valley Authority, US Environmental Protection Agency and the Electric Power Research Institute. Samples and process data were collected during a test run of the pilot plant using Illinois No. 6 coal as feedstock. This test run occurred in October and November, 1980, and was sponsored by EPRI. During two 12-hour test periods, samples of effluent water, slag, raw coal and settler fines were obtained. These samples were characterized for components of environmental concern such as trace elements and trace organics as well as toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity using simple biological testing methods. The leaching characteristics of slag and of the settler solids were determined using standard batch leaching procedures. Effluent water treatability was evaluated using a bench-scale treatment scheme including solids removal, ammonia stripping and biological oxidation. Material balances for major and trace elements around the pilot plant were calculated.