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Coal and Peat: Global Resources and Future Supply

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FormalPara Glossary
Anthracite:

Anthracite is the highest rank of coal because it has undergone the greatest degree of metamorphosis away from peat. It features low volatile matter (<10%) and high carbon, giving it the highest energy content of all coals. Semianthracite is somewhere in the middle between low volatile bituminous coal and anthracite.

Ash:

Inorganic residues remaining after combustion. It is less than the initial mineral matter content because of chemical changes during combustion, i.e., the loss of water, carbon dioxide, and sulfurous compounds.

Bituminous coal:

Bituminous coal lies between subbituminous coal and semianthracite in terms of rank. This rank of coal is commonly divided into additional subgroups dependent upon the content of volatile material.

Calorific value:

Corresponds to the amount of heat per unit mass when combusted. Can be expressed as gross calorific value, which is the amount of heat liberated during combustion under standardized conditions at...

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Höök, M. (2017). Coal and Peat: Global Resources and Future Supply. In: Meyers, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2493-6_161-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2493-6_161-3

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