Are Coal Ashes Ok to Spread on Lawn or in Vegetable Garden?
- coaledsweat
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 13768
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
Like it or not gerry, coal is the second largest source of activated carbon on the planet after wood. Prove me wrong.gerry_g wrote:When someone else mentioned "I paid $80 for a 40# bag of "activated carbon", and stated it was marked as "pulverized anthracite." that was a inaccurate in that it was just pulverized anthracite. Who the heck would pay that price to grind anthracite? It was almost certain activated carbon derived from carefully selected and processed (or it wouldn't be activated) then tested from an anthracite base. That is it only thing I can fantasize that explains it's cost. It most likely had the same outside size as the anthracite used to make it, but activated carbon must be very porous which anthracite is not. The Japanese dominate the "fish tank" market (which started the activated carbon discussion) and happen to usually "activate" coconut shell charcoal.
- gerry_g
- Member
- Posts: 182
- Joined: Thu. Dec. 10, 2009 10:51 am
- Location: Eastern MA
- Coal Size/Type: rice
- Other Heating: Electric, Propane
I never stated coal wasn't a source of the carbon for some activated carbon. Please at least read! I stated it "was a inaccurate in that it was just pulverized anthracite". Activated carbon is a form of carbon processed to be riddled with small, low-volume pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions.coaledsweat wrote:Like it or not gerry, coal is the second largest source of activated carbon on the planet after wood. Prove me wrong.
Coal is not processed carbon or riddled with low-volume pores. It certainly can be the source of the carbon.
- coaledsweat
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 13768
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
Maybe you should read gerry. I never said it was JUST anthracite. I stated the bag of activated carbon had it on the label.gerry_g wrote:Please at least read! I stated it "was a inaccurate in that it was just pulverized anthracite". Activated carbon is a form of carbon processed to be riddled with small, low-volume pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions.
Coal is not processed carbon or riddled with low-volume pores. It certainly can be the source of the carbon.
As for the rest of the post, please explain how that is different than any other source of carbon be it wood, coconut or pecan shells.
- gerry_g
- Member
- Posts: 182
- Joined: Thu. Dec. 10, 2009 10:51 am
- Location: Eastern MA
- Coal Size/Type: rice
- Other Heating: Electric, Propane
I just stated "Coal is not processed carbon or riddled with low-volume pores. It certainly can be the source of the carbon."coaledsweat wrote: please explain how that is different than any other source of carbon be it wood, coconut or pecan shells.
Please lets give this a rest! Here is just one process that uses coal to make pure activated carbon.
http://www.chemvironcarbon.com/en/activated-carbo ... anufacture
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14669
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
Please, live long and prosper.. Agree to disagree.. Its just coal ash. If some wanna put it in the garden then great, you ain't gotts to eat the veggies. If you don't wanna put it in yer garden, please then put it somewhere else.. Maybe its hazardous, maybe its not... I don't think it matters anymore at this point..
Sorry just tryin to break the ice er I mean put my ash out over the bank..
Its all good....
Sorry just tryin to break the ice er I mean put my ash out over the bank..
Its all good....
- dcrane
- Verified Business Rep.
- Posts: 3128
- Joined: Sun. Apr. 22, 2012 9:28 am
- Location: Easton, Ma.
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404
The trick is to put it in the neighbors garden! :box:Lightning wrote:Please, live long and prosper.. Agree to disagree.. Its just coal ash. If some wanna put it in the garden then great, you ain't gotts to eat the veggies. If you don't wanna put it in yer garden, please then put it somewhere else.. Maybe its hazardous, maybe its not... I don't think it matters anymore at this point..
Sorry just tryin to break the ice er I mean put my ash out over the bank..
Its all good....
- SMITTY
- Member
- Posts: 12526
- Joined: Sun. Dec. 11, 2005 12:43 pm
- Location: West-Central Mass
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 Highboy
- Coal Size/Type: Rice / Blaschak anthracite
- Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler
An 8 page thread on THIS again????
The basic consensus is: the left leaning folks think coal ash is deadly poison - so if your an obama supporter, DON'T USE COAL ASH! Simple as that.
Everyone else, carry on. The sky is NOT falling ....
The basic consensus is: the left leaning folks think coal ash is deadly poison - so if your an obama supporter, DON'T USE COAL ASH! Simple as that.
Everyone else, carry on. The sky is NOT falling ....
- Carbon12
- Member
- Posts: 2226
- Joined: Tue. Oct. 11, 2011 6:53 pm
- Location: Harrisburg, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
- Coal Size/Type: Rice/Anthracite
- Other Heating: Heat Pump/Forced Hot Air Oil Furnace
Maybe I'll experiment this summer. Grow some plants in an artificial soil mixture and grow some in a 50% ash and artificial soil mixture. I'll record the results and send the produce for analysis. The local Penn State Agricultural Extension will do the tests cheaply. Of course,.....I may not be all that interested.
- CoalisCoolxWarm
- Member
- Posts: 2323
- Joined: Wed. Jan. 19, 2011 11:41 am
- Location: Western PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: old Sears rebuilt, bituminous- offline as of winter 2014
- Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Buckwheat
- Other Heating: Oil Boiler
Not trying to 'stoke' this discussion, but since all the opinions seem to be in this thread, what about bituminous coal ash/clinkers?
For generations we've been told they are fine for driveways, fill, etc, but do NOT use them in the garden, don't dump in the water, and avoid giant amounts in any one place.
I can't say about the anthracite, but reading with great interest.
For generations we've been told they are fine for driveways, fill, etc, but do NOT use them in the garden, don't dump in the water, and avoid giant amounts in any one place.
I can't say about the anthracite, but reading with great interest.
bituminous coal east of the mississippi and anthracite ash are basically the same, as is the emissions profile when burned on an industrial scale. Typically fused, partially fused bottom ash (clinker or crunchy ash from anthracite or bituminous stokers) will be even more inert than the fine, loose ash of a hand-fired appliance. Fact is, it's not substantially different than virgin dirt and you don't need to worry about it in your soil. Airborne dust can be annoying with anything and it does contain some silica so, if you're around large quantities or it bothers you, wear a mask when handling it dry.
- freetown fred
- Member
- Posts: 30302
- Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
- Location: Freetown,NY 13803
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut
What the hell! That's the results of your Penn State Study????????????????????? I coulda understood if it was UCLA
- freetown fred
- Member
- Posts: 30302
- Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
- Location: Freetown,NY 13803
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut
Hmmmm, do or did you ever smoke, drink, do any kind of drugs, enjoy life, sexually active, ever used sun block, heat with coal????????????????????/ I'll get back to you after my research is completed upon receipt of your answers--