Consider the following substances
I. Ethanol
II. Nitroglycerine
III. Urea
Coal gasification technology can be used in the production of how many of them?

Correct Answer:

(b) Only two

Explanation of the Correct Answer:

Coal gasification enables the production of chemicals through downstream synthesis using syngas (CO + H₂). Let’s assess each substance:

• I. Ethanol
  • Yes, ethanol can be produced via coal gasification, though not directly.
  • Syngas produced from gasified coal can be converted to ethanol using catalysts (via syngas-to-alcohol synthesis, e.g., via the Fischer–Tropsch or other catalytic processes).
• II. Nitroglycerine
  • No, nitroglycerine is made from glycerol and nitric acid, not from coal-derived products.
  • Glycerol comes from biological sources (fats/oils), and nitric acid is derived from ammonia, which can be made from syngas—but coal gasification does not directly produce or contribute significantly to nitroglycerine synthesis.
• III. Urea
  • Yes, urea is made by combining ammonia (produced from syngas via the Haber-Bosch process) with carbon dioxide.
  • Since coal gasification can be used to produce ammonia and CO₂, it indirectly enables urea production.

Coal gasification is a process that converts coal into a synthetic gas (syngas) composed primarily of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2)

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

• (a) Only one – Incorrect: Ethanol and Urea can both be produced.
• (c) All the three – Incorrect: Nitroglycerine cannot be made from coal gasification products.
• (d) None – Incorrect: Two of the three substances can be produced.

Relevant Supplementary Information

Table: Evaluation of Substances and Coal Gasification

Related Concepts:

• Coal Gasification: Converts coal into syngas (CO + H₂ + CO₂), used in chemical synthesis and energy generation.
• Fischer–Tropsch Process: Converts syngas into liquid fuels or chemicals like ethanol.
• Haber-Bosch Process: Converts hydrogen (from syngas) and nitrogen into ammonia for fertilizers.

Current Relevance:

• India is investing in coal-to-chemicals and coal-to-urea projects to reduce fertilizer import dependence.
• Clean coal technologies are being promoted to minimize emissions while utilizing coal reserves for value-added outputs.
• The National Coal Gasification Mission aims to gasify 100 MT of coal by 2030.

Table: Coal Gasification and Production of Selected Substances

Key Chemical Pathways Involved

Related Concepts