W pracy przedstawiono koncepcję wykorzystania koksu naftowego do produkcji metanolu. Wymieniono sposoby oraz omówiono istniejące instalacje przetwarzania koksu naftowego do gazu syntezowego dla produkcji metanolu i energii elektrycznej. Zaprezentowano możliwości rozwoju rynku metanolu w Polsce w kierunku chemii, paliw i dodatków dla paliw, a także produkcję olefin i benzyn. Przedstawiono koncepcję instalacji produkcji metanolu z koksu naftowego. Zaprezentowano model ekonomiczny oraz analizę wyników obliczeń przeprowadzonych w celu określenia opłacalności produkcji metanolu na bazie koksu naftowego, dla różnych scenariuszy dostaw węgla oraz opcji kosztów emisji dwutlenku węgla do atmosfery. Wykazano, że opłacalność projektu produkcji metanolu poprzez zgazowanie koksu naftowego jest możliwa jedynie w przypadku uzyskania darmowych uprawnień do emisji CO2 oraz redukcji kosztów inwestycyjnych w stosunku do aktualnych predykcji. Nie gwarantuje to jednakże sukcesu przedsięwzięcia w przypadku znaczących spadków cen metanolu poniżej wartości prognozowanych w scenariuszu zmiennych cen.

Studies on the quality of bituminous coal are mainly focused on physico-chemical analysis, examining the ash content, sulphur content, volatile matter content, moisture content, and the Net Calorific Value of coal. Until now, the above mentioned parameters form the basis of the Polish Standard PN-82/87002, on the basis of which individual types of bituminous coal are determined. In addition, an elemental analysis, providing information about the content of primary elements in the organic matter of solids, i.e. coal, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulphur, is carried out for the selected samples. This issue has been studied by many authors, which undoubtedly provide invaluable knowledge due to the huge amount of data, but, as the authors themselves indicate, the knowledge of the petrography of coal, coking properties (Probierz et al. 2012) and finally the coke obtained from individual coal types (based on tests carried out using the Karbotest installation or the so-called „box tests” performed in the coke oven battery) is still very limited. The article discusses the impact of petrographic composition on the quality of metallurgical coke. The analysis was performed using samples of coking coal from the following mines: Pniówek, Zofiówka, Borynia, and Krupiński. The mentioned coal types are used to produce coke mixtures used for the production of coke in the Przyjaźń and Radlin coking plants. Based on the rank of coal and physicochemical parameters, the mentioned coal types were classified according to the Polish classification and the UN/ECE International Classification of In-Seam Coals (UN/ECE 1995). The prediction of thermomechanical properties of coke (CSR and CRI) performed according to the original CCP method were compared with the results obtained using the classical method of Nippon Steel Corporation.

Steel and cast-iron products, due to their low price and beneficial properties, are the most widely used among metals; their consumption has become an indicator of the economic development of countries. The characteristics of iron raw materials, in relation to current metallurgical requirements, are presented in the present this article. The globalization of the trade and development of steelmaking technologies have caused significant changes in the quality of raw materials in the last half-century forcing improvements in processing technologies. In many countries, standard concentrates (at least 60% Fe) are almost twice as rich as those processed in the mid-20th century. Methods of quality assessment have been improved and quality standards tightened.

The quality requirements for the most important raw materials ‒ iron ores and concentrates, steel scrap, major alloy metals, coking coal, and coke, as well as gas and other energy media ‒ are reviewed in the present paper. Particular attention is paid to the quality testing methodology. The quality of many raw materials is evaluated multi-parametrically: both chemical and physical characteristics are important. Lower-quality parameters in raw materials equate to significantly lower prices obtained by suppliers in the market.

The markets for these raw materials are diversified and governed by separate sets of newly introduced rules. Price benchmarks (e.g. for standard Australian metallurgical coal) or indices (for iron concentrates) apply. Some raw materials are quoted within the framework of the commodity market system (certain alloying components and steel scrap). The abandonment of the long-established system of multi-annual contracts has led to wide fluctuations in prices, which have reached a scale similar to that of other metals.