TY - JOUR
T1 - Environmental geochemistry of antimony in Chinese coals
AU - Qi, C.
AU - Liu, G.
AU - Chou, Chen-Lin
AU - Zheng, L.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40632011, 40525011) and Natural Science Excellent Youth Foundation of Anhui, China (04045064). We would like to thank the editor and reviewers for many constructive comments.
PY - 2008/1/25
Y1 - 2008/1/25
N2 - Environmental geochemistry of antimony (Sb) has gained much attention recently because of its potential toxicity. We have reviewed the distribution, modes of occurrence, geological processes and environmental effects of Sb in Chinese coals. Data of Sb in 1058 coal samples from China were compiled and the average Sb content in Chinese coals is estimated to be 2.27 μg/g. Average Sb content in coals from provinces, cities and autonomous regions may be divided into three groups. Group 1 has a low average Sb content of lower than 1 μg/g, Group 2 has a medium average Sb content of 1-3 μg/g, and Group 3 has a high average Sb content of > 3 μg/g. Coals from Guizhou and Inner Mongolia are extremely enriched in Sb. The abundance of Sb in coals differs among coal-forming periods and coal ranks. Antimony occurs in several modes in coals. It may substitute for iron or sulfur in discrete pyrite grains or occurs as tiny dispersed sulfide particles in organic matter. During coal combustion Sb is partly released to the atmosphere and partly partitioned into solid residues. Antimony in the environment brings about definite harm to human health.
AB - Environmental geochemistry of antimony (Sb) has gained much attention recently because of its potential toxicity. We have reviewed the distribution, modes of occurrence, geological processes and environmental effects of Sb in Chinese coals. Data of Sb in 1058 coal samples from China were compiled and the average Sb content in Chinese coals is estimated to be 2.27 μg/g. Average Sb content in coals from provinces, cities and autonomous regions may be divided into three groups. Group 1 has a low average Sb content of lower than 1 μg/g, Group 2 has a medium average Sb content of 1-3 μg/g, and Group 3 has a high average Sb content of > 3 μg/g. Coals from Guizhou and Inner Mongolia are extremely enriched in Sb. The abundance of Sb in coals differs among coal-forming periods and coal ranks. Antimony occurs in several modes in coals. It may substitute for iron or sulfur in discrete pyrite grains or occurs as tiny dispersed sulfide particles in organic matter. During coal combustion Sb is partly released to the atmosphere and partly partitioned into solid residues. Antimony in the environment brings about definite harm to human health.
KW - ISGS
KW - Modes of occurrence
KW - Environmental geochemistry
KW - Antimony
KW - Chinese coals
KW - Distribution in coals
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U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.09.007
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.09.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 17936877
VL - 389
SP - 225
EP - 234
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
IS - 2-3
ER -