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THE POTENTIAL OF USING THE EARLY EOCENE-OLIGOCENE
COAL’S FORMATION IN TANJUNG BARITO BASIN
Deddy NSP Tanggara
Mining Engineering Major, Palangka Raya University, Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
deddytanggara@mining.upr.ac.id
PAPER INFO ABSTRACT
Received: April
2022
Revised: May
2022
Approved: May
2022
Background: Research on the development of coal utilization for Indonesia
is very important considering that Indonesia is a country that has large
amounts of coal reserves, so it can use its coal not only as a source of energy
for power plants but also needs to incentivize coal conversion for increased
added value.
Aim: To analyze the potential of using the early Eocene-Oligocene coal's
formation in Tanjung Barito basin
Method: In this study, data sources derived from laboratory test results will
be analyzed by descriptive methods with quantitative approaches. The results
of this study were obtained through proximate tests on coal samples TIAN-0
1 and TIAN-0 2 total value moisture of 9.1 4% weight as-received basis (arb)
and Moisture in the Analysis sample worth 3.67%, value ash content 7.35%,
flying substance value 36.11%, tethered carbon value 52.86% with air-dried
base (ADB) basis % weight and total sulfur value 0.36% with air-dried base
(ADB) % weight.
Findings: Based on the gross calorific value with an average caloric value of
7353 Kcal/kg, sample coal is classified as high volatile coal A bituminous.
The results of testing on the potential of sample coal caking also indicate the
potential utilization of Early Eocene-Oligocene coal Tanjung Formation to
be used in the metallurgical industry with the results of testing the value of
the Free Swelling Index sample showing the swelling ability of the coal with
a value of 6 and 2.5 and G indexes 66 and 92.
KEYWORDS
coal quality, proximate, FSI, swelling
INTRODUCTION
The quality of coal is determined by the content of organic and inorganic materials that
make it up and its rank. Finding out its potential utilization is generally done through the
interpretation of its characteristics. These characteristics can be known through laboratory tests
of coal samples, including in the form of analysis of the physical and chemical characteristics
of coal, namely through proximate analysis which among others is needed to find out the
content of parameters such as moisture, flying substances (volatile matter)," total sulfur, solid
carbon (fixed carbon), and ash content (ash). Other tests also need to be done to determine the
potential for special utilization of coal samples, for example for gasification processes,
liquidation, or as a material for conversion to metallurgical coke (Metallurgy coke) where for
the benefit of early indications, crucible swelling number (CSN) and G Index values are
commonly used.
Research on the development of coal utilization for Indonesia is very important
considering that Indonesia is a country that has large amounts of coal reserves, so it can use its
coal not only as an energy source for power generation but also needs to stimulate coal
conversion for increased added value. The conversion is also indispensable for the fulfillment
The Potential of Using the Early Eocene-Oligocene Coal Formation in Tanjung Barito Basin
1063 Interdisciplinary Social Studies, 1(8), May 2022
of industrial and general needs, such as the conversion of coal to gas, methanol, and coke/ coke.
Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the topic.
Tanjung Coal Formation is located in the Bario Basin, where the Bario Basin is located in
the southeastern part of Kalimantan Island (Satyana et al., 2001). The Barito Basin is bounded
by Meratus Mountain in the east and Schwaner Core in the west (Figure 2) (Satyana et al.,
2001).
After Barito Basin was developed in the Late Cretaceous facilitated by the collision of the
Schwaner Core micro-continent and Paternoster micro-continent (Satyana et al., 2001; Satyana
& Silitonga, 1994). The deposition of carbonaceous material continued until the early Miocene
and ended when there was the addition of clastic sediments from the west (Satyana & Silitonga,
1994). Synrift sequence in this basin is composed of Late Paleocene-Middle Eocene sediments
namely Lower Tanjung Formation. This formation is composed of sediments of sandstone,
siltstone, shales, and conglomerates, with a thin layer of coal. The change in sediment
characteristics is very clear in the syn-rift and post-rift sequences. Based on well drilling data,
the lower part facies and their thickness changes is local which indicates rift-infill, and the
upper sequences of the sediments are a regional occurrence which indicated that they are more
influenced by the irregularity horst and graben terrain (Satyana & Silitonga, 1994).
METHOD
Research field activities were carried out by sampling for coal outcrops research of
Tanjung Formation, Barito Basin located in Lemo area, Central Kalimantan (Picture 1). The
sample was taken using the channel sampling method ply by ply (Thomas, 2013). The sample
is then tested in the laboratory and the test results will be analyzed and processed data with a
descriptive method with a quantitative approach.
Batubara sample was also tested to discover its caking and swelling. The volume of
swelling relies on how much coal plastic material melting, the swelling of gas-formed vacuoles,
and the tension between solid particles and the fluid melting material in the coal, these things
cause more gas to be trapped and lead the coal to swell. Swelling characteristic for coals in
general increases following the coal rank. Values within a class for each coal rank individually
differ significantly. Lower rank coal usually has a lower swelling value (Speight, 2015). In this
test, the results of the swelling of coking coal in the test are compared with the profile of the
swelling index numbers (Picture 3). All the results then analyzed withh the help of relevant
sources from ASTM (ASTM D720-91, 2010a; ASTM D3174, 2004; ASTM D4239-04, 2004a,
2004b; ASTM D5373-13, 2013).
The Potential of Using the Early Eocene-Oligocene Coal Formation in Tanjung Barito Basin
1064 Interdisciplinary Social Studies, 1(8), May 2022
Picture 1. Coal Sampling Site for Research (Modification of Amijaya et al., 2019)
Picture 2. Kalimantan Island Physiography, Red Box Research Area (Amijaya et al., 2019)
Picture 3. Forms of Coal Free-Swelling Index (ASTM D720-91, 2010b)
The Potential of Using the Early Eocene-Oligocene Coal Formation in Tanjung Barito Basin
1065 Interdisciplinary Social Studies, 1(8), May 2022
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The data obtained from the results of laboratory tests of coal samples is the total value of
moisture in air-dried, ash content, volatile matter, total sulfur, and fixed carbon. The coal
sample consists of two samples, namely tian-0 1 sample and TIAN-0 2 sample. The results of
the proximate analysis can be seen in Table 1, while the data obtained from the results of CSN,
HGI, and G Index tests can be seen in Table 2.
For comparison of the results of proximate analysis of the sample used and analyzed in
this study is also presented in the form of a graph, where the results of the proximate analysis
can be seen in Figure 1 and the results of the CSN, HGI and G Index tests of the graph can be
seen in Figure 2.
Based on the results of the analysis of proximate on TIAN-0 1 sample and TIAN-0 2
sample has Total Moisture values of 13.09 and 5.19%, Moisture In The Analysis sample worth
3.52 and 3.83%, Ash content worth 9.63 and 5.08%, Volatile Matter worth 31.61 and 40.61%,
Fixed Carbon 55.24 and 50.48% and Total sulfur worth 0.4 and 0.33%.
Sample TIAN-02 in the test had a higher caloric value compared to the TIAN-0 1 sample
with a value of 7519 Kcal / Kg compared to 7187 Kcal / Kg.
For testing the nature of coal swelling obtained a CSN value as an indication of swelling
index 6 for tian-0 coal samples 1 and swelling index value of 2.5 for TIAN-02 coal samples
with HGI value is 76 for TIAN-0 coal sample 1 and HGI value for TIAN coal sample- 02 is
39, while the G index value is 66 for the TIAN-0 coal sample 1 and the G index value for the
TIAN-02 coal sample is 92.
Nilai Free swelling index 6 or higher from this index represents good coke-form. This also
means that the higher the number higher the ability of coke forming. FSI is categorized from 1
to 9 depending on swelling capacities (Speight, 2015) categorized FSI into 3 main categories;
weak (0-2), moderate (2 to 4), and strong (4 to 9).
Based on the test results mentioned earlier, it can also be known that Tanjung formation
coal from The Barito Basin in North Barito, Central Kalimantan, is a high volatile A bituminous
coal that has the potential to be utilized for the benefit of the metallurgical industry.
According to Speight (2015) and Miller (2005) the tendency of coal to caking will
dramatically increase in the range of volatile matter between 25 to 35%, while the tendency of
swelling in coal decreased with the increasing value of mineral matter (Figure 3).
Table 1. Proximate Analysis Result Data
Parameter Analysis
Code Sample
Unit
Basis
TIAN-01
TIAN-02
Total Moisture
13,09
5,19
Weight %
ARB
Moisture in the
Analysis sample
3,52
3,83
Weight %
ADB
Ash Content
9,63
5,08
Weight %
ADB
Volatile Matter
31,61
40,61
Weight %
ADB
Total Sulfur
0,40
0,33
Weight %
ADB
Fixed Carbon
55,24
50,48
Weight %
ADB
Gross Calorific Value
7187
7519
Kcal/kg
ADB
The Potential of Using the Early Eocene-Oligocene Coal Formation in Tanjung Barito Basin
1066 Interdisciplinary Social Studies, 1(8), May 2022
Table 2. Data on Physical Properties Analysis and Coal Swelling
Parameter Analysis
Code Sample
Unit
Standards
TIAN-01
TIAN-02
HGI
76
39
D409/ D409M-16
CSN
6
2,5
D720/D720M-15e1
G Index
66
92
ISO 15585:2019
Particle size + 50 mm
0,0
63,91
Weight %
D4749-87
Particle size - 50 mm
100,00
36,09
Weight %
D4749-87
Figure 1. Coal Sample Proximate Test Result Analysis Graph
Figure 2. Coal Sample Caking Potential Parameter Graph
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1067 Interdisciplinary Social Studies, 1(8), May 2022
Figure 3. Relationship Between Volatile Matter, Freeswelling Index Value, and Coke
Stability Factor (Gransden et al., 1991)
CONCLUSION
Tanjung Formation coal samples from the Barito Basin area of North Barito, Central
Kalimantan analyzed in this study had Total Moisture values of 13.09 and 5.19%, with an
average of 9.14% (arb), Moisture In The Analysis sample worth 3.52 and 3.83% with an
average of 3.67%, ash content worth 9.63 and 5.08% with an average of 7.35%, Volatile Matter
worth 31.61 and 40.61% with an average of 36.11%, Fixed Carbon 55.24 and 50.48% with an
average of 52.86%, and Total sulfur worth 0.4 and 0.33% with an average of 0.36%. Based on
the gross calorific value with a value of TIAN-01 worth 7187 Kcal/Kg and SAMPLE TIAN-
02 are 7519 Kcal/Kg, sample coal is classified as high volatile coal A bituminous.
For testing the properties of coal swelling obtained A CSN value as an indication of
swelling index 6 for TIAN-01 coal samples and swelling index value of 2.5 for TIAN-02 coal
samples with HGI value is 76 for TIAN-01 coal sample and HGI value for TIAN-02 coal
sample is 39, while G index value is 66 for TIAN-01 coal sample and G index value for TIAN-
02 coal sample is 92.
The test results on the potential of sample coal caking also indicate the potential utilization
of Early Eocene-Oligocene coal Tanjung Formation to be used in the metallurgical industry
with the results of testing the value of the Free Swelling Index sample showing the swelling
ability of the coal with values of 6 and 2.5. The value of 6 indicates strong swelling capacities.
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