Development of Environmentally Friendly Coal Processing Technology in

Indonesia

Coal (coal) is one of the primary energy sources most widely used throughout the world for
electricity generation. Based on a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA, 2016),
electricity demand in Southeast Asia is projected to increase 160% from 2014 to 2040, with coal
as the main fuel choice.

Coal is defined as the deposition of carbon organic compounds that are formed naturally from
plant residues in solid, brittle (brittle) form and can ignite spontaneously in open air. Its
formation took place over millions of years ago through aerobic and anaerobic processes under
high pressure and temperature. The older the coal, the% weight composition of element C
(carbon) is increasing. Coal rating, starting from: lignite; subbituminus; bituminous; and
anthracite, determined by the ratio of C content to H (hydrogen) which affects the increase in the
heating value.

Pros and cons of Coal Utilization

The use of coal as a fuel with the highest portion compared to other fuels cannot be separated
from its various advantages. The capital cost of building a coal-fired power plant is relatively
lower, at around 1-2 USD / watt compared to other energy sources, as well as a cheap price,
which is around 2-4 cents USD / kWh. Based on data (BP. 2017), Indonesia has proven reserves
of 25,573 million tons which are predicted to run out in the next 200 years. In addition, mature
utilization technology makes the current use of coal more advanced compared to other energy
sources.

Greenhouse gas emissions produced by coal combustion are higher than other energy sources.
This is caused by high carbon content so that more CO2 gas is produced compared to other
energy sources. In addition to CO2, the use of coal can produce SOx gas derived from sulfur
content which can cause acid rain. The content of hazardous metals such as mercury, arsenic and
selenium can pollute the air and water around the power plant from uncontrolled fly ash.
Therefore, the developed countries are now starting to reduce the use of coal and replace it with
renewable energy sources

Challenges of Coal Utilization in Indonesia

The National Energy Council (DEN) has formulated the National Energy Policy (KEN) through
PP No. 79/2014 concerning the optimal primary energy mix. One of the points in the regulation
states that in 2025 the role of coal is at least 30%, and in 2025 a minimum of 25%. This is a
challenge to use coal as an environmentally friendly energy (green coal technology) that is
inseparable from environmental issues. Because the demand for coal for electricity generation in
2050 is predicted to reach 79% (BPPT, 2017). This has become a challenge and its own potential
in developing clean coal technology, not only meeting electricity needs but also meeting
environmental aspects in its management.

In his scientific oration at the West Hall ITB, Saturday (3/3/2018), Prof. Dwiwahju Sasongko
said that efforts to achieve green coal technology can be done by various methods such as
handling the emissions of coal combustion, increasing the efficiency of combustion technology,
and reducing coal consumption in combustion. These methods are expected to improve the
performance of conventional technology, the development of new utilization technologies, and
the reduction of CO2, SOx, NOx, and particulate emissions that are harmful to the environment.

Environmentally Friendly Coal Technology

Coal reserves in Indonesia ranks 9th or around 2.2 percent of world reserves. Unfortunately,
around 80% of Indonesia's coal reserves include medium and low rank coal with a calorific value
of less than 5000 kcal / kg. Coal with low calorific value is still small or has not been utilized.
With coal production of more than 400 million tons per year, only around 20% is utilized for
domestic purposes while 80% is exported.

With a low calorific value, more efficient processing technology breakthroughs are needed. The
technology that has been implemented on a commercial scale is combustion technology. The
type of furnace FBC (Fluidized Bed Combustion) is an interesting technology because of the
relatively low operating temperature, which is 800-900 oC and produces little NOx gas. When
compared to the PF (Pulverized Firing) furnace, FBC has a larger particle size thereby reducing
the energy for grinding. Nevertheless, the FBC operating temperature is much lower than the PF
which is currently widely used, reaching 1200-1400 oC.

Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) is one of the commercial technologies used to reduce sulfur
oxide or SOx emissions. This technology utilizes water and limestone by contacting chimney
gas that comes out of the combustion chamber. SOx gas will react with a mixture of water and
limestone to form gypsum.

In addition to burning to get energy from coal, other environmentally friendly technologies are
by indirectly burning (Indirect Coal Combustion). This method can be carried out with two
routes, namely gasification and liquefaction (liquefaction). Gasidication technology that has
been widely applied in industry is the Integrated Gasification Coal Combustion (IGCC), which is
a method of increasing the hydrogen ratio by converting coal into synthesis gas before entering
the combustion chamber. As the ratio of hydrogen to fuel increases, the emissions produced are
much lower. Liquidation is a coal liquefaction method that can be used as a liquid fuel. This
method has been successfully commercialized by the Japanese NEDO and Brown Coal
Liquifaction (BCL) companies and Sasol-South Africa.
Environmentally Friendly Coal Research

The low heat value and the low utilization of coal produced in Indonesia, pushed Prof. Sasongko
and team to develop hybrid coal. This research utilizes abundant biomass waste and is still of
little use. Low rank coal and biomass are converted to hybrid coal through the process of co-
pyrolysis. As a result, hybrid coal has a higher heating value, lower water content and lower
CO2 emissions because CO2 emissions from biomass are neutral. Thus, hybrid coal is a fuel that
is more environmentally friendly compared to the coal feed itself.

Biodesulfurization is an interesting and important research topic because SOx emissions in coal
combustion are dangerous for the environment. Sulfur in coal is in the form of organic,
inorganic (pyrite) and sulfate sulfur. Elimination can be done by three methods, namely
physical, chemical and biological. Prof. Sasongko has conducted a number of biological sulfur
removal studies using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans which can eliminate organic sulfur content.
"Although the process is slow compared to chemistry, more than ten papers on biodesulfurization
have been published in journals and proceedings," he added.

Another biological process that can be used to process environmentally friendly coal is through
liquefaction (biosolubilization) using molds (Trichoderma asperellum). Mold has an enzyme
that will decompose the components of coal such as lignin. A review of this process is discussed
in the rubric of Science and Technology entitled "Cair Hitam van Bandung". This research
continues until now using Trichoderma asperellum and Neurospora sp.

According to Permen LH No. 7/2007, coal ash waste, both fly ash and bottom ash, constitutes
B3 waste. The synthesis of fly ash into zeolite has been successfully carried out by Prof.
Sasongko together with fellow lecturers in collaboration with PT YTL East Java. The zeolite can
be used as a catalyst or adsorbent