WEST COAST COAL

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1931, Page 3

WEST COAST COAL

CARBONISATION PROS/'ECTS. ( Jiy Tcliiy/mpk—l ’e-v -.Ltnuuss- Association) WKLI.I XCTOX, April A l lie, .M inister of .Scientific and Indu.sti i:il Research, ill - Forbes. has approved the publication of a bulletin •>y a Fuel Research Station, dealing with th(> chemical properties of the Alillei'ron and Blackball coals. A synopsis ■of tin*: publication is as ■ follows: One of the principal methods for the production of smokeless fuel and coal oil is the carbonisation of coal at

low<>r temperatures than those used in the' cooking or gas making industries, the present report is an extension ol tin* investigation Of the low temperature carbonisation of New Zealand coals to the West Coast bituminous coals, and is part of the original proy, gramme of the Fuel Research Conir mif lee.

As in the earlier reports, tile yields of the products, semi-coke or the carbonised residue, tar-oil, gas, etc., have been qualitatively determined. Ibe products have been submitted to chemical examination, and their value ascertained. As with the brown coals, semi-coxe forms more than hall of the Inlal yield of the products (.Aiilierton <- per rent.. ’Blackball -V) per cent.) It i,s readily combustible, and it would make excellent .household fiiel. Ihe yield of far oil from. Blackball coal is extremely high (fit) gallons per ton), end if ihr motor spirit 'fraction of this lip added to the light spirit obtaind by stripping tin* gas, a tmal yield of over live gallons ot crude motor spirit per ton of coal is obtained.