Revalorización de carbón térmico para nuevos usos y producción de materiales carbonosos de alto valor añadido
- Autores: Juan José Vidal Lombas
- Directores de la Tesis: Martina Inmaculada Álvarez Fernández (dir. tes.), Concepción Casado Sulé (dir. tes.)
- Lectura: En la Universidad de Oviedo ( España ) en 2022
- Idioma: español
- Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: Celestino González Nicieza (presid.), María Belén Prendes Gero (secret.), Lina María López Sánchez (voc.), Marta Menéndez Fernández (voc.), Juan Carlos Peñas Espinosa (voc.)
- Programa de doctorado: Programa de Doctorado en Materiales por la Universidad de Oviedo
- Materias:
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- Resumen
RESUMEN (en español) La presente tesis doctoral pretende demostrar la posibilidad de que ciertos carbones minerales existentes en las cuencas mineras del norte de España, y concretamente en las comunidades autónomas de Asturias y de Castilla y León, además de la utilización que como recurso energético han tenido hasta ahora, puedan contar con un alto valor añadido que haga rentable su aprovechamiento.
Ante la problemática que ha supuesto el final de la extracción de carbón en el año 2018, se fijó como objetivo general encontrar alguna aplicación innovadora que justifique el aprovechamiento rentable del carbón nacional. Con este fin se propusieron varias alternativas, no excluyentes sino complementarias, que puedan conferir a ciertos yacimientos de carbón, con reservas probadas e importantes, una viabilidad económica.
De todas las alternativas propuestas se optó por la elaboración de carbón activado, debido básicamente a que es un producto con un alto valor añadido con buenas perspectivas de mercado por su amplia gama de aplicaciones, así como también a que el carbón mineral ya está precarbonizado, partiendo por lo tanto de una elevada porosidad que puede suponer una ventaja destacable por el ahorro que esto conlleva en el proceso de la activación, al suponer un menor consumo de energía eléctrica, materiales y tiempo.
A partir del objetivo general se derivan otros que, aunque secundarios, poseen una importante relevancia y que se resumen en: Obtener la materia prima, reabriendo y manteniendo ciertas explotaciones de carbón; implantar una instalación para la elaboración de carbón activado; fomentar la empleabilidad de trabajadores cualificados y no cualificados; crear un tejido industrial, propio y auxiliar, formando una red de comercialización y distribución.
La materia prima para el estudio fue obtenida a partir de dos tipos de carbón mineral, recogido in situ en dos capas, pertenecientes cada una a dos unidades productivas distintas que forman parte de un mismo yacimiento. Se han evaluado las reservas explotables para el objetivo fijado, con el fin de tener asegurado el aprovisionamiento, siendo sometidas las muestras a ensayos normalizados para determinar su rango y una caracterización completa.
RESUMEN (en Inglés) This doctoral thesis aims to demonstrate the possibility that certain mineral coals existing in the mining basins of northern Spain, and specifically in the autonomous communities of "Asturias" and "Castilla y León",might, in addition to the use they have had so far as an energy resource, have a high added value that makes their use profitable.
Given the problems that the end of coal extraction has meant in 2018, it was set as a general objective to find some innovative application to justify the profitable use of national coal. With this aim, several alternatives were proposed, not exclusive but complementary, which could confer on certain coal deposits, with proven and important reserves, an economic viability.
Of all the alternatives proposed, the production of activated carbon was chosen, basically because it is a product with a high added value and with good market prospects for its wide range of applications,as well as because mineral coal "is already precarbonised", starting therefore from a high porosity that can be a remarkable advantage for the savings that this entails in the activation process, by supposing a lower consumption of electrical energy, materials and time.
From the general objective, others are derived that, although secondary, have an important relevance and that are summarized in: obtainment of raw material, reopening and maintaining certain coal mines; establishment of an installation for the production of activated carbon;promotion of employability of skilled and unskilled workers;creation of industrial fabric and generation of a marketing and distribution network.
The raw material for the study was obtained from two types of mineral coal, collected in situ in two layers, each belonging to two different production units that are part of the same deposit. The exploitable reserves have been evaluated for the fixed objective, in order to assure the supply. The samples are subjected to standardized tests to determine their range and a complete characterization.
The experimental phase of the study consisted of the preparation of the samples and the application of different treatments during the process to obtain activated carbon. The pre-activation treatments applied to the samples already selected were: particle size selection, demineralization, oxidation, pyrolysis + annealing and activation. The carbonaceous products obtained were subjected to the standardized tests applicable to this type of material for its characterization. Activated carbons are achieved with BET specific surface values between 587 m2/g and 1307 m2/g, which offers a wide range of applications.
From all the available information, the influence of each of the different treatments applied was analyzed, as well as each of the main variables of operation of the process.
Once the technical feasibility has been demonstrated it was essential that the satisfactory results obtained in the experimental phase acquired a real utility, being necessary to generate economically profitable products. With this intention, an economic feasibility study is developed. It has been proposed in two phases.
To determine the parameters that allow the carbonaceous products obtained to enter the market, having an acceptable niche, the different variables are studied through the following methodologies: Evaluation of the availability of the raw material, Market study and Economic analysis.
As a summary of the conclusions, it is demonstrated that the technical feasibility of the proposed objectives is sufficiently proven with the results obtained in the experimental phase, provided that the process and treatments applied in their development are implemented with the specific raw material object of the research. As regards economic viability, the profitability of the assumptions is substantially conditioned by the selling price of each product, its market share and the discount rate applied for the calculation of profitability.
Finally, several lines of research are proposed, some directly derived from the study that has been carried out, and others related to it.
