The Kulkwitzer See ( Lake Kulkwitz ), colloquially called Kulki , is a lake in the western part of Saxony , Germany . The lake is a part of the Central German Lake District .
61-439: Kulkwitzer See emerged from two former lignite opencast mining areas southwest of Leipzig . Coal was mined here from 1864, first underground and from 1937 in opencast mining. The two remaining opencast mines were flooded from 1963 and opened in 1973 as a local recreation area . The lake is located east of Markranstädt , north of the former village of Göhrenz , 1999 incorporated as a neighborhood into Markranstädt , south of
122-409: A carbon content around 25–35% and is considered the lowest rank of coal due to its relatively low heat content . When removed from the ground, it contains a very high amount of moisture , which partially explains its low carbon content. Lignite is mined all around the world and is used almost exclusively as a fuel for steam-electric power generation . Lignite combustion produces less heat for
183-485: A carbon content of 60–70 percent on a dry ash-free basis. However, its inherent moisture content is sometimes as high as 75 percent and its ash content ranges from 6–19 percent, compared with 6–12 percent for bituminous coal . As a result, its carbon content on the as-received basis (i.e., containing both inherent moisture and mineral matter) is typically just 25-35 percent. The energy content of lignite ranges from 10 to 20 MJ/kg (9–17 million BTU per short ton ) on
244-560: A fuel for poor people compared to higher value hard coals. In Germany, briquettes are still readily available to end consumers in home improvement stores and supermarkets. An environmentally beneficial use of lignite is in agriculture. Lignite may have value as an environmentally benign soil amendment , improving cation exchange and phosphorus availability in soils while reducing availability of heavy metals, and may be superior to commercial K humates. Lignite fly ash produced by combustion of lignite in power plants may also be valuable as
305-419: A major source of airborne contaminants including arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, nickel, lead, antimony, vanadium , zinc, platinum , palladium and rhodium . Water sources (groundwater, lakes, streams and rivers) can be polluted by toxic metals leaching from industrial and consumer waste; acid rain can exacerbate this process by releasing toxic metals trapped in soils. Transport through soil can be facilitated by
366-720: A moist, mineral-matter-free basis. The energy content of lignite consumed in the United States averages 15 MJ/kg (13 million BTU/ton), on the as-received basis. The energy content of lignite consumed in Victoria, Australia, averages 8.6 MJ/kg (8.2 million BTU/ton) on a net wet basis. Lignite has a high content of volatile matter which makes it easier to convert into gas and liquid petroleum products than higher-ranking coals. Its high moisture content and susceptibility to spontaneous combustion can cause problems in transportation and storage. Processes which remove water from brown coal reduce
427-430: A result of increased temperatures and pressures underground. Lignite forms from peat that has not been subjected to deep burial and heating. It forms at temperatures below 100 °C (212 °F), primarily by biochemical degradation. This includes the process of humification, in which microorganisms extract hydrocarbons from peat and form humic acids, which decrease the rate of bacterial decay. In lignite, humification
488-413: A soil amendment and fertilizer. However, rigorous studies of the long-term benefits of lignite products in agriculture are lacking. Lignite may also be used for the cultivation and distribution of biological control microbes that suppress plant pests. The carbon increases the organic matter in the soil while the biological control microbes provide an alternative to chemical pesticides. Leonardite
549-492: A term for toxic substances. Metals with multiple toxic effects include arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and nickel (Ni). Elements that are nutritionally essential for animal or plant life but which are considered toxic metals in high doses or other forms include cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn). Toxic metals are found naturally in
610-581: Is a hardened, gem-like form of lignite used in various types of jewelry. Germany is the largest producer of lignite, followed by China , Russia , and United States . Lignite accounted for 8% of all U.S. coal production in 2019. – no data available Toxic heavy metal A toxic heavy metal is a common but misleading term for a metallic element noted for its potential toxicity. Not all heavy metals are toxic and some toxic metals are not heavy. Elements often discussed as toxic include cadmium , mercury and lead , all of which appear in
671-563: Is a soil conditioner rich in humic acids that is formed by natural oxidation when lignite comes in contact with air. The process can be replicated artificially on a large scale. The less matured xyloid (wood-shaped) lignite also contains high amounts of humic acid. Reaction with quaternary amine forms a product called amine-treated lignite (ATL), which is used in drilling mud to reduce fluid loss during drilling. Lignite may have potential uses as an industrial adsorbent . Experiments show that its adsorption of methylene blue falls within
SECTION 10
#1732854846770732-562: Is an on or off-site process that uses chemicals, high-temperature volatization, or electrolysis to extract contaminants from soils. The process or processes used will vary according to contaminant and the characteristics of the site. Some elements otherwise regarded as toxic heavy metals are essential , in small quantities, for human health. These elements include vanadium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, selenium, strontium and molybdenum. A deficiency of these essential metals may increase susceptibility to heavy metal poisoning. Selenium
793-536: Is called slacking or slackening . Most lignite is used to generate electricity. However, small amounts are used in agriculture , in industry , and even, as jet , in jewelry . Its historical use as fuel for home heating has continuously declined and is now of lower importance than its use to generate electricity. Lignite is often found in thick beds located near the surface, making it inexpensive to mine. However, because of its low energy density , tendency to crumble, and typically high moisture content, brown coal
854-722: Is inefficient to transport and is not traded extensively on the world market compared with higher coal grades. It is often burned in power stations near the mines, such as in Poland's Bełchatów plant and Turów plant , Australia's Latrobe Valley and Luminant 's Monticello plant and Martin Lake plant in Texas. Primarily because of latent high moisture content and low energy density of brown coal, carbon dioxide emissions from traditional brown-coal-fired plants are generally much higher per megawatt-hour generated than for comparable black-coal plants, with
915-487: Is partial, coming to completion only when the coal reaches sub-bituminous rank. The most characteristic chemical change in the organic material during formation of lignite is the sharp reduction in the number of C=O and C-O-R functional groups. Lignite deposits are typically younger than higher-ranked coals, with the majority of them having formed during the Tertiary period. Lignite is often found in thick beds located near
976-575: The Bundeswehr for training purposes. The Kulkwitzer See is home to various types of fish such as perch , pike, catfish , carp , roach, eel , ruff and tench . The Kulkwitzer See is easily accessible by public transport : Bundesstraße 87 runs on the north side of the lake. Parking spaces, some of which are subject to a fee, are connected to the Bundesstrasse both on the Markranstadt side and on
1037-541: The Industrial Revolution , mercury levels have tripled in many near-surface seawaters , especially around Iceland and Antarctica . The adverse effects of lead were known to the ancients. In the 2nd century BC the Greek botanist Nicander described the colic and paralysis seen in lead-poisoned people. Dioscorides , a Greek physician who is thought to have lived in the 1st century CE, wrote that lead "makes
1098-516: The World Health Organization 's list of 10 chemicals of major public concern. Other examples include chromium and nickel , thallium , bismuth , arsenic , antimony and tin . These toxic elements are found naturally in the earth. They become concentrated as a result of human caused activities and can enter plant and animal (including human) tissues via inhalation, diet, and manual handling. Then, they can bind to and interfere with
1159-584: The Yunnan region exceeded contamination levels from modern mining activities by nearly four times. In the 17th and 18th centuries, people in Devon were afflicted by a condition referred to as Devon colic ; this was discovered to be due to the imbibing of lead-contaminated cider . In 2013, the World Health Organization estimated that lead poisoning resulted in 143,000 deaths, and "contribute[d] to 600,000 new cases of children with intellectual disabilities", each year. In
1220-592: The railway network was dependent on lignite either through steam trains or electrified lines mostly fed with lignite derived power. As per the table below, East Germany was the largest producer of lignite for much of its existence as an independent state. In 2014, about 12 percent of Germany's energy and, specifically, 27 percent of Germany's electricity came from lignite power plants, while in 2014 in Greece , lignite provided about 50 percent of its power needs. Germany has announced plans to phase out lignite by 2038 at
1281-632: The 1950s due to industrial discharges of mercury into rivers and coastal waters. The best-known instances were in Minamata and Niigata . In Minamata alone, more than 600 people died due to what became known as Minamata disease . More than 21,000 people filed claims with the Japanese government, of which almost 3000 became certified as having the disease. In 22 documented cases, pregnant women who consumed contaminated fish showed mild or no symptoms but gave birth to infants with severe developmental disabilities. Since
SECTION 20
#17328548467701342-456: The 1970s. Due to its underwater flora and fauna and its good depth of visibility, the lake is applied one of the ten best diving waters in Germany and attracts around 35,000 overnight stays from tourists, mainly divers from all over Germany and Europe . There are several underwater hotspots especially for divers. A small chapel, an airplane wreck and a set up scaffolding that were formerly sunk by
1403-694: The Leipzig side. On the route of the former railway line, which touches the Kulkwitzer See in the southeast, the Elster-Saale cycle path was laid out, which connects the Elster cycle path with the Saale cycle path . Lignite Lignite (derived from Latin lignum meaning 'wood'), often referred to as brown coal , is a soft, brown, combustible sedimentary rock formed from naturally compressed peat . It has
1464-427: The U.S. city of Flint, Michigan , lead contamination in drinking water has been an issue since 2014 . The source of the contamination has been attributed to "corrosion in the lead and iron pipes that distribute water to city residents". In 2015, the lead concentration of drinking water in north-eastern Tasmania , Australia, reached a level over 50 times the prescribed national drinking water guidelines. The source of
1525-419: The amount of carbon dioxide and sulfur released than other ranks of coal. As a result, lignite is the most harmful coal to human health. Depending on the source, various toxic heavy metals , including naturally occurring radioactive materials , may be present in lignite and left over in the coal fly ash produced from its combustion, further increasing health risks. Lignite is brownish-black in color and has
1586-457: The ancients but methodical studies of the overall toxicity of heavy metals appear to date from only 1868. In that year, Wanklyn and Chapman speculated on the adverse effects of the heavy metals "arsenic, lead, copper, zinc, iron and manganese " in drinking water . They noted an "absence of investigation" and were reduced to "the necessity of pleading for the collection of data". In 1884, Blake described an apparent connection between toxicity and
1647-420: The area remains saturated with water, which covers dead vegetation and protects it from atmospheric oxygen. Otherwise, peat swamps are found in a variety of climates and geographical settings. Anaerobic bacteria may contribute to the degradation of peat, but this process takes a long time, particularly in acidic water. Burial by other sediments further slows biological degradation, and subsequent transformations are
1708-520: The arsenic. The geographical extent of sources may be very large. For example, up to one-sixth of China's arable land might be affected by heavy metal contamination. Lead is the most prevalent heavy metal contaminant. As a component of tetraethyl lead , (CH 3 CH 2 ) 4 Pb , it was used extensively in gasoline during the 1930s–1970s. Lead levels in the aquatic environments of industrialised societies have been estimated to be two to three times those of pre-industrial levels. Although
1769-502: The atomic weight of an element. The following sections provide historical thumbnails for the "classical" toxic heavy metals (arsenic, mercury and lead) and some more recent examples (chromium and cadmium). Arsenic , as realgar ( As 4 S 4 ) and orpiment ( As 2 S 3 ), was known in ancient times. Strabo (64–50 BCE – c. AD 24?), a Greek geographer and historian, wrote that only slaves were employed in realgar and orpiment mines since they would inevitably die from
1830-465: The body. Chelates are not without side effects and can also remove beneficial metals from the body. Vitamin and mineral supplements are sometimes co-administered for this reason Soils contaminated by heavy metals can be remediated by one or more of the following technologies: isolation; immobilization; toxicity reduction; physical separation; or extraction. Isolation involves the use of caps, membranes or below-ground barriers in an attempt to quarantine
1891-429: The contaminated soil. Immobilization aims to alter the properties of the soil so as to hinder the mobility of the heavy contaminants. Toxicity reduction attempts to oxidise or reduce the toxic heavy metal ions, via chemical or biological means into less toxic or mobile forms. Physical separation involves the removal of the contaminated soil and the separation of the metal contaminants by mechanical means. Extraction
Kulkwitzer See - Misplaced Pages Continue
1952-424: The contamination was attributed to "a combination of dilapidated drinking water infrastructure, including lead jointed pipelines, end-of-life polyvinyl chloride pipes and household plumbing". Chromium(III) compounds and chromium metal are not considered a health hazard, while the toxicity and carcinogenic properties of chromium(VI) have been known since at least the late 19th century. In 1890, Newman described
2013-461: The earth, and become concentrated as a result of human activities, or, in some cases geochemical processes, such as accumulation in peat soils that are then released when drained for agriculture. Common sources include fertilisers ; aging water supply infrastructure; and microplastics floating in the world's oceans. Arsenic is thought to be used in connection with coloring dyes. Rat poison used in grain and mash stores may be another source of
2074-464: The elevated cancer risk of workers in a chromate dye company. Chromate-induced dermatitis was reported in aircraft workers during World War II . In 1963, an outbreak of dermatitis, ranging from erythema to exudative eczema , occurred amongst 60 automobile factory workers in England. The workers had been wet-sanding chromate-based primer paint that had been applied to car bodies. In Australia, chromium
2135-550: The embassy dining room. Ground water contaminated by arsenic , as of 2014, "is still poisoning millions of people in Asia". The first emperor of unified China, Qin Shi Huang , it is reported, died of ingesting mercury pills that were intended to give him eternal life. The phrase "mad as a hatter" is likely a reference to mercury poisoning among milliners (so-called " mad hatter disease "), as mercury-based compounds were once used in
2196-418: The former village of Miltitz , 1999 incorporated as a neighborhood into Leipzig, and west of Grünau and Lausen, both parts of Leipzig. It is named after the former village of Kulkwitz , which became a neighborhood of Markranstädt in 1999. There are substantial tourist facilities: several bathing beaches - on the western shore also one suitable for the disabled , a circular hiking trail , a ship restaurant ,
2257-525: The functioning of vital cellular components. The toxic effects of arsenic, mercury, and lead were known to the ancients, but methodical studies of the toxicity of some heavy metals appear to date from only 1868. In humans, heavy metal poisoning is generally treated by the administration of chelating agents . Some elements otherwise regarded as toxic heavy metals are essential, in small quantities, for human health. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), which standardizes nomenclature, says
2318-906: The governments of Japan and Australia has begun extracting hydrogen from brown coal. The liquefied hydrogen will be shipped via the transporter Suiso Frontier to Japan. The largest lignite deposits in North America are the Gulf Coast lignites and the Fort Union lignite field. The Gulf Coast lignites are located in a band running from Texas to Alabama roughly parallel to the Gulf Coast. The Fort Union lignite field stretches from North Dakota to Saskatchewan . Both are important commercial sources of lignite. Lignite can be separated into two types: xyloid lignite or fossil wood , and compact lignite or perfect lignite. Although xyloid lignite may sometimes have
2379-549: The incident. Cadmium exposure is a phenomenon of the early 20th century, and onwards. In Japan in 1910, the Mitsui Mining & Smelting Company began discharging cadmium into the Jinzū River , as a byproduct of mining operations. Residents in the surrounding area subsequently consumed rice grown in cadmium-contaminated irrigation water. They experienced softening of the bones and kidney failure . The origin of these symptoms
2440-481: The lake has been operated in the responsibility of the "Zweckverband Kulkwitzer See" association. At last, two cities belonged to this association – Leipzig and Markranstädt. The chairman was the respective mayor of Markranstädt. In 2003, the association outsourced the operation of the lake to an external private business agency - LeipzigSeen GmbH based in Leipzig. Marathon and triathlon events, lake festivals and other sporting events have also been held here since
2501-863: The land has been restored to full productivity. A bond (not necessary in this form) for mine reclamation is required in the US by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 . The Latrobe Valley in Victoria , Australia , contains estimated reserves of some 65 billion tonnes of brown coal. The deposit is equivalent to 25 percent of known world reserves. The coal seams are up to 98 m (322 ft) thick, with multiple coal seams often giving virtually continuous brown coal thickness of up to 230 m (755 ft). Seams are covered by very little overburden (10 to 20 m (33 to 66 ft)). A partnership led by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and backed by
Kulkwitzer See - Misplaced Pages Continue
2562-466: The latest. Greece has confirmed that the last coal plant will be shut in 2025 after receiving pressure from the European Union and plans to heavily invest in renewable energy . Lignite was and is used as a replacement for or in combination with firewood for home heating. It is usually pressed into briquettes for that use. Due to the smell it gives off when burned, lignite was often seen as
2623-407: The lignite is removed, restoration involves grading the mine spoil to as close an approximation as practical of the original ground surface (Approximate Original Contour or AOC). Subsoil and topsoil are restored and the land reseeded with various grasses. In North Dakota , a performance bond is held against the mining company for at least ten years after the end of mining operations to guarantee that
2684-453: The manufacture of felt hats in the 18th and 19th century. Historically, gold amalgam (an alloy with mercury) was widely used in gilding , leading to numerous casualties among the workers. It is estimated that during the construction of Saint Isaac's Cathedral alone, 60 workers died from the gilding of the main dome. Outbreaks of methylmercury poisoning occurred in several places in Japan during
2745-448: The metal or metal compound, and the dose involved. Broadly, long-term exposure to toxic heavy metals can have carcinogenic, central and peripheral nervous system, and circulatory effects. For humans, typical presentations associated with exposure to any of the "classical" toxic heavy metals, or chromium (another toxic heavy metal) or arsenic (a metalloid), are shown in the table. The toxic effects of arsenic, mercury and lead were known to
2806-593: The mind give way". Lead was used extensively in Roman aqueducts from about 500 BC to 300 AD. Julius Caesar 's engineer, Vitruvius , reported, "water is much more wholesome from earthenware pipes than from lead pipes. For it seems to be made injurious by lead, because white lead is produced by it, and this is said to be harmful to the human body." During the Mongol period in China (1271−1368 AD), lead pollution due to silver smelting in
2867-538: The original results. In June 2010 cadmium was detected in the paint used on promotional drinking glasses for the movie Shrek Forever After , sold by McDonald's Restaurants , triggering a recall of 12 million glasses. In humans, heavy metal poisoning is generally treated by the administration of chelating agents . These are chemical compounds, such as CaNa 2 EDTA (calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate) that convert heavy metals to chemically inert forms that can be excreted without further interaction with
2928-720: The presence of preferential flow paths (macropores) and dissolved organic compounds. Plants are exposed to toxic metals through the uptake of water; animals eat these plants; ingestion of plant- and animal-based foods are the largest sources of toxic metals in humans. Absorption through skin contact, for example from contact with soil, or metal containing toys and jewelry, is another potential source of toxic metal contamination. Toxic metals can bioaccumulate in organisms as they are hard to metabolize . Toxic metals "can bind to vital cellular components, such as structural proteins , enzymes , and nucleic acids , and interfere with their functioning". Symptoms and effects can vary according to
2989-728: The range of activated carbons currently used by industry. Jet is a form of lignite that has been used as a gemstone. The earliest jet artifacts date to 10,000 BCE and jet was used extensively in necklaces and other ornamentation in Britain from the Neolithic until the end of Roman Britain . Jet experienced a brief revival in Victorian Britain . Lignite begins as partially decayed plant material, or peat. Peat tends to accumulate in areas with high moisture, slow land subsidence , and no disturbance by rivers or oceans – under these conditions,
3050-512: The restaurant Rotes Haus (in English: Red House, formerly the control center of the opencast mine) and other restaurants and snack bars , a camping site , a sauna , a high ropes course , a sledding hill, diving , sailing , boating and surfing opportunities. In 2018, the cycle path around the lake was handed over. Together with bathers, anglers and surfers, around 500,000 visitors visit Lake Kulkwitz every year. From 1993 until 2021,
3111-414: The risk of spontaneous combustion to the same level as black coal, increase the calorific value of brown coal to a black coal equivalent fuel, and significantly reduce the emissions profile of 'densified' brown coal to a level similar to or better than most black coals. However, removing the moisture increases the cost of the final lignite fuel. Lignite rapidly degrades when exposed to air. This process
SECTION 50
#17328548467703172-422: The subsurface beds. Topsoil and subsoil must be properly removed and either used to reclaim previously mined-out areas or stored for future reclamation. Excavator and truck overburden removal prepares the area for dragline overburden removal to expose the lignite beds. These are broken up using specially equipped tractors ( coal ripping ) and then loaded into bottom dump trucks using front loaders . Once
3233-409: The surface. These are inexpensive to extract using various forms of surface mining , though this can result in serious environmental damage. Regulations in the United States and other countries require that land that is surface mined must be restored to its original productivity once mining is complete. Strip mining of lignite in the United States begins with drilling to establish the extent of
3294-401: The tenacity and the appearance of ordinary wood, it can be seen that the combustible woody tissue has experienced a great modification. It is reducible to a fine powder by trituration , and if submitted to the action of a weak solution of potash , it yields a considerable quantity of humic acid . Leonardite is an oxidized form of lignite, which also contains high levels of humic acid. Jet
3355-652: The term “heavy metals ” is both meaningless and misleading". The IUPAC report focuses on the legal and toxicological implications of describing "heavy metals" as toxins when there is no scientific evidence to support a connection. The density implied by the adjective "heavy" has almost no biological consequences and pure metals are rarely the biologically active substance. This characterization has been echoed by numerous reviews. The most widely used toxicology textbook, Casarett and Doull’s toxicology uses "toxic metal" not "heavy metals". Nevertheless many scientific and science related articles continue to use "heavy metal" as
3416-518: The toxic effects of the fumes given off from the ores. Arsenic-contaminated beer poisoned over 6,000 people in the Manchester area of England in 1900, and is thought to have killed at least 70 victims. Clare Luce , American ambassador to Italy from 1953 to 1956, suffered from arsenic poisoning . Its source was traced to flaking arsenic-laden paint on the ceiling of her bedroom. She may also have eaten food contaminated by arsenic in flaking ceiling paint in
3477-624: The use of leaded gasoline was largely phased out in North America by 1996, soils next to roads built before this time retain high lead concentrations. Lead (from lead(II) azide or lead styphnate used in firearms) gradually accumulates at firearms training grounds, contaminating the local environment and exposing range employees to a risk of lead poisoning . Toxic metals enter plant, animal and human tissues via air inhalation, diet, and manual handling. Welding , galvanizing , brazing, and soldering exposes workers to fumes that may be inhaled and result in metal fume fever . Motor vehicle emissions are
3538-497: The world's highest-emitting plant being Australia's Hazelwood Power Station until its closure in March 2017. The operation of traditional brown-coal plants, particularly in combination with strip mining , is politically contentious due to environmental concerns. The German Democratic Republic relied extensively on lignite to become energy self-sufficient , and eventually obtained 70% of its energy requirements from lignite. Lignite
3599-490: Was also an important chemical industry feedstock via Bergius process or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in lieu of petroleum, which had to be imported for hard currency following a change in policy by the Soviet Union in the 1970s, which had previously delivered petroleum at below market rates. East German scientists even converted lignite into coke suitable for metallurgical uses ( high temperature lignite coke ) and much of
3660-483: Was not clear; possibilities raised at the time included "a regional or bacterial disease or lead poisoning". In 1955, cadmium was identified as the likely cause and in 1961 the source was directly linked to mining operations in the area. In February 2010, cadmium was found in Walmart exclusive Miley Cyrus jewelry. Wal-Mart continued to sell the jewelry until May, when covert testing organised by Associated Press confirmed
3721-518: Was released from the Newcastle Orica explosives plant on August 8, 2011. Up to 20 workers at the plant were exposed as were 70 nearby homes in Stockton . The town was only notified three days after the release and the accident sparked a major public controversy, with Orica criticised for playing down the extent and possible risks of the leak, and the state Government attacked for their slow response to
SECTION 60
#1732854846770#769230