Editing Lignite (section)

== Uses ==
[[File:Schützender Ring um Lützerath, Demonstration "Alle Dörfer Bleiben – jetzt erst recht!" 30.8.2020 Tagebau Garzweiler.jpg|thumb|Lignite mine in the background of [[Lützerath]], Germany]]
Most lignite is used to generate electricity.<ref name="useia"/> However, small amounts are used [[#in agriculture|in agriculture]], [[#in industry|in industry]], and even, as ''jet'', [[#in jewelry|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.

===As fuel===
[[File:Lom ČSA Most Czech Republic 2016 7.jpg|thumb|Layer of lignite for mining in [[Lom ČSA|Lom ČSA, Czech Republic]]]]
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 is inefficient to transport and is not traded extensively on the world market compared with higher coal grades.<ref name=brit/><ref name="victoria-coal-data-sheet"/> It is often burned in power stations near the mines, such as in Poland's [[Bełchatów Power Station|Bełchatów plant]] and [[Turów Power Station|Turów plant]], Australia's [[Latrobe Valley]] and [[Luminant]]'s [[Monticello Steam Electric Station|Monticello plant]] and [[Martin Lake Power Plant|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 the world's highest-emitting plant being Australia's [[Hazelwood Power Station]]<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.wwf.org.au/news/n223/ 
 |title=Hazelwood tops international list of dirty power stations 
 |access-date=2008-10-02 
 |publisher=World Wide Fund for Nature Australia 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013091310/http://www.wwf.org.au/news/n223/ 
 |archive-date=2008-10-13 
}}</ref> until its closure in March 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ipplc.com.au/media/newsitem/End-of-generation-at-Hazelwood |title=End of generation at Hazelwood |access-date=2017-06-30 |publisher=Engie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331114514/http://www.ipplc.com.au/media/newsitem/End-of-generation-at-Hazelwood |archive-date = 2017-03-31 |url-status = dead }}</ref> The operation of traditional brown-coal plants, particularly in combination with [[strip mining]], is politically contentious due to environmental concerns.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vic.greens.org.au/news/media-releases-2006/the-greens-won-t-line-up-for-dirty-brown-coal-in-the-valley |title=The Greens Won't Line Up For Dirty Brown Coal In The Valley |work=Australian Greens Victoria |date=2006-08-18 |access-date=2007-06-28 |archive-date=2011-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813085807/http://vic.greens.org.au/news/media-releases-2006/the-greens-won-t-line-up-for-dirty-brown-coal-in-the-valley |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2004/2004-05-28-02.asp |title=Greenpeace Germany Protests Brown Coal Power Stations |publisher=Environment News Service |date=2004-05-28 |access-date=2007-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930203414/http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2004/2004-05-28-02.asp |archive-date = 2007-09-30}}</ref>

The [[German Democratic Republic]] relied extensively on lignite to become energy [[autarky|self-sufficient]], and eventually obtained 70% of its energy requirements from lignite.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Irfan |first1=Ulmair |title=How East Germany Cleaned Up Dirty Power |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-east-germany-cleaned-up-dirty-power/ |website=Scientific American |publisher=Springer Nature America, Inc. |access-date=4 May 2021 |date=3 November 2014 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020134/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-east-germany-cleaned-up-dirty-power/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lignite was also an important chemical industry feedstock via [[Bergius process]] or [[Fischer-Tropsch synthesis]] in lieu of petroleum,<ref>{{cite news |title=Liquid fuel revival |url=https://www.soci.org/Chemistry-and-Industry/CnI-Data/2009/22/Liquid-fuel-revival |access-date=4 May 2021 |work=Chemistry and Industry |agency=SCI |issue=22 |date=2009 |archive-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504221020/https://www.soci.org/Chemistry-and-Industry/CnI-Data/2009/22/Liquid-fuel-revival |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="history-germany">{{cite web |title=The history of energy in Germany |url=https://www.planete-energies.com/en/medias/saga-energies/history-energy-germany |website=Planete energies |publisher=Total Foundation |access-date=4 May 2021 |date=29 April 2015 |archive-date=14 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614033353/https://www.planete-energies.com/en/medias/saga-energies/history-energy-germany |url-status=dead }}</ref> East German scientists even converted lignite into [[coke (fuel)|coke]] suitable for metallurgical uses ([[high temperature lignite coke]]) and much of the [[Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany)|railway network]] was dependent on lignite either through [[steam locomotive|steam trains]] or [[railway electrification|electrified]] lines mostly fed with lignite derived power.<ref name="history-germany"/> 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 [[energy in Germany|Germany's energy]] and, specifically, 27 percent of Germany's electricity came from lignite power plants,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bmwi.de/BMWi/Redaktion/PDF/E/energiestatistiken-energiegewinnung-energieverbrauch,property=pdf,bereich=bmwi2012,sprache=de,rwb=true.pdf|title=Statistics on energy production in Germany 2014, Department of Energy (in german, lignite = "Braunkohle")|date=2014-10-01|access-date=2015-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206115815/http://www.bmwi.de/BMWi/Redaktion/PDF/E/energiestatistiken-energiegewinnung-energieverbrauch,property=pdf,bereich=bmwi2012,sprache=de,rwb=true.pdf|archive-date=2015-12-06|url-status=dead}}</ref> while in 2014 in [[energy in Greece|Greece]], lignite provided about 50 percent of its power needs. Germany has announced plans to [[fossil fuel phase-out|phase out lignite]] by 2038 at the latest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/kohlekompromiss-101.html|title = Interview zum Kohlekompromiss: "Damit ist es nicht getan"|website=Tagesschau.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erneuerbareenergien.de/was-der-kohlekompromiss-fuer-deutschland-bedeutet|title=Was der Kohlekompromiss für Deutschland bedeutet|website=Erneuerbareenergien.de|date=13 August 2019|access-date=8 December 2020|archive-date=13 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813093944/https://www.erneuerbareenergien.de/was-der-kohlekompromiss-fuer-deutschland-bedeutet|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdf.de/uri/c01c31fc-36f2-48c4-8c12-8fc92b53b458|title=Teurer Kohlekompromiss|website=Zdf.de|access-date=30 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksta.de/politik/kommentar-zum-kohleausstieg-der-kohlekompromiss-ist-ein-meisterstueck-31939930?cb=1607428307426|title=Kommentar zum Kohleausstieg: Der Kohlekompromiss ist ein Meisterstück|website=Ksta.de|date=26 January 2019}}</ref> Greece has confirmed that the last coal plant will be shut in 2025 after receiving pressure from the [[European Union]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/news/greece-confirms-last-coal-plant-will-be-shut-in-2025/|title=Greece confirms last coal plant will be shut in 2025|website=Euractiv.com|date=26 April 2021}}</ref> and plans to heavily invest in [[renewable energy]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skai.gr/news/environment/skrekas-proetoimazoume-kai-sxediazoume-tin-prasini-politiki-tis-xoras|title=Σκρέκας: Προετοιμάζουμε και σχεδιάζουμε την πράσινη πολιτική της χώρας &#124; ΣΚΑΪ|website=Skai.gr|date=18 May 2021|access-date=20 May 2021|archive-date=20 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520145727/https://www.skai.gr/news/environment/skrekas-proetoimazoume-kai-sxediazoume-tin-prasini-politiki-tis-xoras|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Home heating===
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.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Francis |first1=Wilfrid |title=Fuels and fuel technology : a summarized manual |date=1980 |publisher=Pergamon Press |location=Oxford |isbn=9781483147949 |pages=4–5 |edition=2d (SI)}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Thuβ |first1=U. |last2=Popp |first2=P. |last3=Ehrlich |first3=Chr. |last4=Kalkoff |first4=W.-D. |title=Domestic lignite combustion as source of polychlorodibenzodioxins and -furans (PCDD/F) |journal=Chemosphere |date=July 1995 |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=2591–2604 |doi=10.1016/0045-6535(95)00132-R|bibcode=1995Chmsp..31.2591T }}</ref> Due to the smell it gives off when burned, lignite was often seen as 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.obi.de/search/briketts/#/|title=Briketts kaufen bei|website=Obi.de|access-date=2021-07-29|archive-date=2021-07-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729151550/https://www.obi.de/search/briketts/#/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hornbach.de/shop/suche/sortiment/briketts|title=Briketts kaufen bei|website=Hornbach.de|access-date=2021-07-29|archive-date=2021-07-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729151549/https://www.hornbach.de/shop/suche/sortiment/briketts|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://shop.rewe.de/p/braunkohlebriketts-10kg/4791800|title=Braunkohlebriketts 10kg bei REWE online bestellen!|website=Shop.rewe.de|access-date=30 June 2022|archive-date=25 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525100054/https://shop.rewe.de/p/braunkohlebriketts-10kg/4791800|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bauhaus.info/brennholz-briketts/c/10001327|title=Briketts kaufen bei Bauhaus|website=Bauhaus.info|access-date=2022-03-09|archive-date=2022-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411073905/https://www.bauhaus.info/brennholz-briketts/c/10001327|url-status=live}}</ref>

===In agriculture {{anchor|in agriculture}} ===
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,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kim Thi Tran |first1=Cuc |last2=Rose |first2=Michael T. |last3=Cavagnaro |first3=Timothy R. |last4=Patti |first4=Antonio F. |title=Lignite amendment has limited impacts on soil microbial communities and mineral nitrogen availability |journal=Applied Soil Ecology |date=November 2015 |volume=95 |pages=140–150 |doi=10.1016/j.apsoil.2015.06.020|bibcode=2015AppSE..95..140K }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Li |first1=Changjian |last2=Xiong |first2=Yunwu |last3=Zou |first3=Jiaye |last4=Dong |first4=Li |last5=Ren |first5=Ping |last6=Huang |first6=Guanhua |title=Impact of biochar and lignite-based amendments on microbial communities and greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soil |journal=Vadose Zone Journal |date=March 2021 |volume=20 |issue=2 |doi=10.1002/vzj2.20105|bibcode=2021VZJ....2020105L |doi-access=free }}</ref> and may be superior to commercial K humates.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lyons |first1=Graham |last2=Genc |first2=Yusuf |title=Commercial Humates in Agriculture: Real Substance or Smoke and Mirrors? |journal=Agronomy |date=28 October 2016 |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=50 |doi=10.3390/agronomy6040050|doi-access=free |bibcode=2016Agron...6...50L }}</ref> Lignite fly ash produced by combustion of lignite in power plants may also be valuable as a soil amendment and fertilizer.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ram |first1=Lal C. |last2=Srivastava |first2=Nishant K. |last3=Jha |first3=Sangeet K. |last4=Sinha |first4=Awadhesh K. |last5=Masto |first5=Reginald E. |last6=Selvi |first6=Vetrivel A. |title=Management of Lignite Fly Ash for Improving Soil Fertility and Crop Productivity |journal=Environmental Management |date=September 2007 |volume=40 |issue=3 |pages=438–452 |doi=10.1007/s00267-006-0126-9|pmid=17705037 |bibcode=2007EnMan..40..438R |s2cid=1257174 }}</ref> However, rigorous studies of the long-term benefits of lignite products in agriculture are lacking.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Patti |first1=Antonio |last2=Rose |first2=Michael |last3=Little |first3=Karen |last4=Jackson |first4=Roy |last5=Cavagnaro |first5=Timothy |title=Evaluating Lignite-Derived Products (LDPs) for Agriculture – Does Research Inform Practice? |journal=EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts |year=2014 |page=10165 |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014EGUGA..1610165P |access-date=4 May 2021 |bibcode=2014EGUGA..1610165P |archive-date=11 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411073905/https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014EGUGA..1610165P |url-status=live }}</ref>

Lignite may also be used for the cultivation and distribution of [[biological control]] microbes that suppress plant pests. The carbon increases the [[soil organic matter|organic matter in the soil]] while the biological control microbes provide an alternative to chemical pesticides.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Jones|first1=Richard|last2=Petit|first2=R|last3=Taber|first3=R|title=Lignite and stillage:carrier and substrate for application of fungal biocontrol agents to soil|doi=10.1094/Phyto-74-1167|journal=Phytopathology|date=1984|volume=74|issue=10|pages=1167–1170}}</ref>

''[[Leonardite]]'' is a soil conditioner rich in [[humic acid]]s that is formed by natural oxidation when lignite comes in contact with air.<ref name ="Youngs">{{Cite web|url=http://www.anl.gov/PCS/acsfuel/preprint%20archive/Files/07_1_CINCINNATI_01-63_0012.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.anl.gov/PCS/acsfuel/preprint%20archive/Files/07_1_CINCINNATI_01-63_0012.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Youngs, R.W. & Frost, C.M. 1963. Humic acids from leonardite – a soil conditioner and organic fertilizer. Ind. Eng. Chem., 55, 95–99|access-date=30 June 2022}}</ref> The process can be replicated artificially on a large scale.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gong |first1=Guanqun |last2=Xu |first2=Liangwei |last3=Zhang |first3=Yingjie |last4=Liu |first4=Weixin |last5=Wang |first5=Ming |last6=Zhao |first6=Yufeng |last7=Yuan |first7=Xin |last8=Li |first8=Yajun |title=Extraction of Fulvic Acid from Lignite and Characterization of Its Functional Groups |journal=ACS Omega |date=3 November 2020 |volume=5 |issue=43 |pages=27953–27961 |doi=10.1021/acsomega.0c03388|pmid=33163778 |pmc=7643152 }}</ref> The less matured xyloid (wood-shaped) lignite also contains high amounts of humic acid.<ref Name="Mackie"/>

=== In drilling mud {{anchor|in industry}} ===
Reaction with [[quaternary ammonium cation|quaternary amine]] forms a product called amine-treated lignite (ATL), which is used in [[drilling mud]] to reduce fluid loss during drilling.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Elgibaly |first1=A. |last2=Farahat |first2=M. |last3=Abd El Nabbi |first3=M. |title=The Optimum Types and Characteristics of Drilling Fluids Used During Drilling in The Egyption Western Desert |journal=Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering |date=1 December 2018 |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=89–100 |doi=10.21608/jpme.2018.40453|doi-access=free }}</ref>

===As an industrial adsorbent===
Lignite may have potential uses as an industrial [[adsorbent]]. Experiments show that its adsorption of [[methylene blue]] falls within the range of [[activated carbon]]s currently used by industry.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Qi |first1=Ying |last2=Hoadley |first2=Andrew F.A. |last3=Chaffee |first3=Alan L. |last4=Garnier |first4=Gil |title=Characterisation of lignite as an industrial adsorbent |journal=Fuel |date=April 2011 |volume=90 |issue=4 |pages=1567–1574 |doi=10.1016/j.fuel.2011.01.015|bibcode=2011Fuel...90.1567Q }}</ref>

===In jewellery {{anchor|in jewelry}} ===
[[Jet (lignite)|Jet]] is a form of lignite that has been used as a gemstone.<ref name="Glossary2005">{{cite book | title=Glossary of Geology |edition=5th | publisher=American Geological Institute |editor-last=Neuendorf |editor-first=K. K. E. Jr. |editor2-last=Mehl |editor2-first=J. P. |editor3-last=Jackson |editor3-first=J. A.| year=2005 | location=Alexandria, Virginia | pages=344}}</ref> The earliest jet artifacts date to 10,000 BCE<ref name="botfly">{{cite web|url=http://donsmaps.com/petersfels.html|title=Venus figures from Petersfels|access-date=9 August 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929213049/http://donsmaps.com/petersfels.html|archive-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> and jet was used extensively in necklaces and other ornamentation in Britain from the [[Neolithic]] until the end of [[Roman Britain]].<ref name=RomanJet8>{{cite book |last=Allason-Jones |first=Lindsay  |author-link=Lindsay Allason-Jones |date=1996|title=Roman Jet in the Yorkshire Museum|publisher=The Yorkshire Museum |pages=8–11 |isbn=0905807170}}</ref> Jet experienced a brief revival in [[Victorian Britain]].<ref name=MullerH59>{{cite book |last=Muller |first=Helen |date=1987 |title=Jet|publisher=Butterworths |pages=59–63 |isbn=0408031107}}</ref>