At present, lignite is transported in vehicles by road and rail to end user industries, but it is hazardous as its dust is known to impact vegetation and air.
To overcome the shortcoming, Surekha Devi, professor and head of chemistry department of Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara, completed a research where lignite was liquified.
While liquification and gassification of lignite by applying high pressure and temperature is adopted by countries such as US and Japan, the costs involved are very high.
Devi and her team, however, liquefied lignite at room temperature and atmospheric pressure at a lower cost. Using water and molasses, a stable suspension of liquid lignite can be prepared.
After hundreds of laboratory experiments carried out at the MSU laboratory, the team prepared the stable suspension before submitting a report to the GMDC.
The GMDC is yet to take a decision on the matter despite the report laying down the entire logistics and project cost. The biggest hurdle is that a pipeline to transport liquid lignite will have to be set up.
