Energy & Fuels 1996, 9, 390
390
convenient reference source that encompasses both fundamental research and current refinery practice. S. M. Richardson and M. R. Gray, University of Alberta EF940567Z
The Chemistry and Technology of Coal, Second Edition. By James G. Speight (Western Research Institute, Laramie, Wyoming). Marcel Dekker, Inc.: New York, 1994. 664 pp. ISBN 0-8247-9200-9. $195 ($65 on orders of five or more copies for classroom use only). The first edition of The Chemistry and Technology of Coal was published in 1983. The material has been expanded and rewritten for the second edition. With more pages and larger page size, the book has been increased by nearly 50%. A glossary and an appendix have been added. References are now cited in the text and listed at the end of each chapter, whereas a bibliography was only provided in the first edition. The references cover up to early 1993. Over 500 tables, drawings, and photographs are included. Some chapters in the first edition have been divided and expanded and new materials on such topics as environmental aspects of coal utilization, clean coal technology, gas cleanup, and chemicals from coal have been added. The volume is a companion volume t o The Chemistry and Technology of Petroleum by the same author. The preface to the first edition states that the book is written as a teaching text from which the reader can get a broad overview of coal technology. It is aimed as those just entering this area of science and engineering and those who are already active in the field, but need information of topics related t o their specialty. The book is easy to follow, with new terms defined in the text and a glossary for quick reference. The technical level is such that anyone with a degree in engineering or the physical sciences should encounter no difficulty in understanding the material, and much of it will be understandable t o nontechnical people. The subject matter is very broad, covering most of the topics included in such standards as the Chemistry of Coal Utilization, Second Supplementary Volume and van Krevelen’s Coal: Topography-PhysicChemistry-Constitution. With such breadth, depth must suffer. Researchers reading in their own area of expertise will find the material quite introductory. To assist the reader with more detailed study, references to review articles are provided wherever possible. These are generally quite good, but occasionally important review articles are missed. One example is the chapter on coal as a n organic sediment, which does not refer t o Peter Given’s review, “An Essay on the Organic Geochemistry of Coal” (Coal Science; Gorbaty, M. L., Larsen, J. W., Wender, I., Eds.; Academic Press: New York, 1984; Vol. 3, pp 65-252).
Chemistry appears in the title, but the chemistry is limited to nomenclature, structures, and some chemical reactions. Those hoping to learn geochemical mechanisms of coal formation, kinetic mechanisms for liquefaction or gasification, catalytic effects, structure-reaction relationships, or the thermodynamics of coal reactions will be disappointed. Part I, Classification, Origin, and Properties, contains 13 chapters. It starts with four chapters on classification, formation, and petrography. The tables provide a good comparison of the various schemes t o classify coal. The section of petrography is sketchy, with nothing on experimental measurement techniques, the terminology for low-rank coal petrography, and differences between reflectance and thin sections. Identification of macerals in the photomicrographs is somewhat difficult. The next two chapters cover exploration, mining, and preparation. Two chapters cover mineral matter and the characterization of coal. The remaining five chapters cover the physical and chemical properties and reactions of coals. Most topics of interest are covered, but there is little detail as to reaction mechanisms and the effect of coal structure (rank) on the observed behavior. Part 11, Utilization, contains eight chapters on coal processing, combustion, carbonization, liquefaction, gasification, cleaning, briquetting, and chemicals from coal. Once again, the coverage is quite complete, but details are often lacking. The indicators of coking quality are discussed, but the mechanism of high-temperature coking, the formation of mesophase, and coke texture are not discussed. Many processes are covered that are now only of historical interest, but this gives some picture of how processes have developed. A summary of the state of research and development for each type of technology is missing and the reader may be left without a clear picture of the direction in which research is advancing. The Chemistry and Technology of Coal is a good reference for anyone working in coal science, mining, preparation, geology, and utilization. It provides an introduction to a wide range of topics related to coal properties and coal utilization and a basis for more detailed study of specific topics. It therefore achieves part of its stated purpose. It does not attempt to be an exhaustive review of any single aspect of coal science and technology. However, even experienced researchers will benefit from reading the book and using it as a reference. The price is high for individuals, but copies should be made available in libraries at facilities which use coal. The special price for instructional use makes it an attractive text for advanced undergraduate courses on coal. It could be used for graduate courses but would need to be supplemented with more depth in many areas. David M. Bodily, University of Utah EF940564M
Additions and Corrections M. A. Salas-Peregrin, F. Carrasco-Marin, F. J. L 6 p e z - G a r z h ) a n d C. Moreno-Castilla: Adsorption of COS on Activated Carbons from Diluted Ambient Environments 1994,8, 239-243. Page 242. Equation 4 should read
a n d not a s published. EF950580Z 0887-0624/95/2509-0390$09.00/0
0 1995 American Chemical Society
