Gas works, coke works and other coal carbonisation plants

Background:

The coal carbonisation industry developed through the 19th century with three main branches: coke production, gas production and tar distillation. The process of coal carbonisation remained broadly the same throughout the history of the industry and involves heating coal in the absence of air to produce coal gas, coke, tar and ammoniacal liquor:

  • Coal gas (mainly hydrogen and methane) was widely used as a means of illumination in the UK (early 19th century), initially in factories and subsequently for street/domestic lighting then heating and cooking.
  • Coke was required in large quantities by the iron and steel industries.
  • Coal tar was used as a source of organic chemicals until natural gas and the oil refining industry became prominent.
The coal carbonisation process was the major source of town gas until after the First World War when an increasing proportion of gas was produced as carburetted water gas. In the late 1950s and early 1960s a number of gas works converted to oil reforming plants, manufacturing synthetic town gas (oil-gas) from petroleum. Following the introduction of natural gas, town gas production declined. The majority of town gas works closed in the 1960s and, with a few exceptions, the plants producing synthetic town gas from petroleum were closed in the 1970s.
Potential Processes and Operations:

This profile contains details on the following production processes:

  • Coal gas production
  • Producer gas production
  • Carburetted water gas production
  • Oil-reforming plant
  • Natural gas production
  • Coke production
  • Ancillary processes such as tar distillation, ammonia recovery, sulphuric acid manufacture, ammonium sulphate and steam production.

These processes would produce a range of waste materials such as ammoniacal liquor, coal tar, spent oxide, foul lime, metals and coal dust.

Potential Contaminants of Concern:
Contaminant type Main group of contaminants Location
Feedstock storage areas for coal, distillate, gas oil, naphtha and LPG Process areas Tar tanks, effluent tanks, lagoons, pipework and pumps Solid waste storage/disposal areas (inc made ground)
Organic Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) • • • •
Halogenated hydrocarbons        
Non-halogenated hydrocarbons • • • •
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs • • • •
Dioxins and furans        
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)        
Pesticides and herbicides        
Organometallic compounds        
Explosives        
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)        
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)        
Inorganic Metals • •   •
Non-metals and common inorganic substances   • • •
Asbestos   • • •
Cyanides   • • •
Radionuclides   •    
Other potential contaminants of concern
 Other contaminant groups may be present such as heterocyclic nitrogen compounds, glycols and organo-sulphur compounds. See original Industry Profile for additional potential contaminants.
 
Original Industry Profile: 
Further Information Sources: Related Industry Profiles:
 

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