Assessment of dimethyl sulphide odorous emissions during coal extraction process in Coal Mine Velenje

Uranjek, Gregor (author), Horvat, Milena (author), Milačič, Radmila (author), Rošer, Janez (author), Kotnik, Jože (author)

Underground coal extraction at Coal Mine Velenje occasionally gives rise to odour complaints from local residents. This manuscript describes a robust quantification of odorous emissions of mine sources and a model-based analysis aimed to establish a better understanding of the sources, concentrations, dispersion, and possible control of odorous compounds during coal extraction process. Major odour sources during underground mining are released volatile sulphur compounds from coal seam that have characteristic malodours at extremely low concentrations at micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m$^3$) levels. Analysis of 1028 gas samples taken over a 6-year period (2008–2013) reveals that dimethyl sulphide ((CH$_3$)$_2$S) is the major odour active compound present in the mine, being detected on 679 occasions throughout the mine, while hydrogen sulphide (H$_2$S) and sulphur dioxide (SO$_2$) were detected 5 and 26 times. Analysis of gas samples has shown that main DMS sources in the mine are coal extraction locations at longwall faces and development headings and that DMS is releasing during transport from main coal transport system. The dispersion simulations of odour sources in the mine have shown that the concentrations of DMS at median levels can represent relatively modest odour nuisance. While at peak levels, the concentration of DMS remained sufficiently high to create an odour problem both in the mine and on the surface. Overall, dispersion simulations have shown that ventilation regulation on its own is not sufficient as an odour abatement measure.

• Language: English
• Keywords: coal mine, dimethyl sulphide, odour, coal gases, mine ventilation, dispersion modelling
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: NTF - Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: 19 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 195, iss. 11, art. 1269
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-152577
• UDC: 502/504
• ISSN on article: 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11755-z
• COBISS.SI-ID: 167107075
• Publication date in RUL: 29.11.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Environmental monitoring and assessment
• Shortened title: Environ. monit. assess.
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• ISSN: 1573-2959
• COBISS.SI-ID: 2224776

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: European Social Fund
• Name: Young researchers from Industry 2010