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Consider the following substances: 1. Ethanol 2. Nitroglycerine 3. Urea Coal gasification technology can be used in the production of how many of them?
Explanation
Ethanol can be produced in a cost-effective manner from syngas, which is a downstream product from syngas obtained by coal gasification.[1] Ammonia production by coal gasification has increased the demand for fertilizers.[2] Since urea is produced from ammonia, and urea is the most produced and consumed fertiliser in India[3], coal gasification technology can be used to produce both ethanol and urea through the ammonia route.
However, nitroglycerine is an organic nitrate compound produced through the nitration of glycerol using nitric and sulfuric acids. This is a completely different chemical process that does not involve coal gasification technology at all. Nitroglycerine production requires glycerol (from fats/oils) and nitrating acids, not syngas or coal-derived products.
Therefore, coal gasification technology can be used in the production of only two substances from the given list: ethanol (from syngas fermentation) and urea (via ammonia synthesis from coal gasification). The correct answer is option B.
Sources- [1] https://coal.gov.in/sites/default/files/ncgm/ncgm21-09-21.pdf
- [2] https://coal.gov.in/sites/default/files/ncgm/ncgm21-09-21.pdf
- [3] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > FERTILISERS > p. 303
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis question is a classic 'Application of Technology' test. While Urea (via Ammonia) is a standard current affair (Talcher Plant), and Ethanol is a chemical possibility via Syngas, Nitroglycerine is the 'Common Sense' trap. It tests if you understand the underlying chemistry (Syngas platform) rather than just memorizing lists.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Primary discussions with licensors such as Synata Bio (USA) revealed that ethanol can be produced in a cost-effective manner from Syn Gas. ... Ethanol is envisaged for being a downstream product from syngas obtained by coal gasification. Opinions were voiced regarding fermentation of syngas to meet the demand of ethanol blending projected by 2025-26."
Why this source?
- Explicitly states that ethanol can be produced from syngas generated by coal gasification.
- Mentions licensors (Synata Bio) and fermentation of syngas as a route to meet ethanol demand, showing practical/industry interest.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"5. Coal Gasification Products: Sectoral Potential ... 5.1.1. Methanol ... 5.1.2. Ethanol"
Why this source?
- Includes a dedicated subsection in the coal gasification products section for ethanol, indicating ethanol is considered a potential product from coal gasification.
- Places ethanol alongside other chemicals (e.g., methanol) produced from syngas, reinforcing the link between coal gasification and liquid fuel/chemical production.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
"Syngas can be produced from several carbonaceous sources, like coal gasification, natural gas or biomass gasification. ... Methanol synthesis and the Fischer–Tropsch (FT) process are two families of catalytic reactions to produce liquid hydrocarbon (HC) fuels from syngas"
Why this source?
- States that syngas can be produced from coal gasification and that syngas is used as feedstock for synthesis of liquid hydrocarbon fuels (e.g., via Fischer–Tropsch and methanol synthesis).
- Provides context that coal-derived syngas is a feedstock for catalytic processes to make liquid fuels, supporting the plausibility of producing alcohols from syngas.
- Explicitly states that ethanol can be produced from syngas generated by coal gasification.
- Mentions licensors (Synata Bio) and fermentation of syngas as a route to meet ethanol demand, showing practical/industry interest.
- Includes a dedicated subsection in the coal gasification products section for ethanol, indicating ethanol is considered a potential product from coal gasification.
- Places ethanol alongside other chemicals (e.g., methanol) produced from syngas, reinforcing the link between coal gasification and liquid fuel/chemical production.
- States that syngas can be produced from coal gasification and that syngas is used as feedstock for synthesis of liquid hydrocarbon fuels (e.g., via Fischer–Tropsch and methanol synthesis).
- Provides context that coal-derived syngas is a feedstock for catalytic processes to make liquid fuels, supporting the plausibility of producing alcohols from syngas.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > Types Of Hydrogen Based On Extraction Methods > p. 298
Strength: 4/5
“zz,to,z, Types Of Hydrogen Based On Extraction Methods Depending on the nature of its extraction, hydrogen is categorized into three categories, namely, grey, blue and green. • Grey Hydrogen: it is produced via coal or lignite gasification {black orbrown}, or via a process called steam methane reformation (SMR) of natural gas or methane (grey). These tend to be mostly carbon-intensive processes. • Blue Hydrogen: It is produced via natural gas or coal gasification combined with carbon capture. storage (CCS) or carbon capture use (CCU) technologies to reduce carbon emissions. . Green Hydrogen: It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy.”
Why relevant
States that coal (or lignite) gasification produces hydrogen (grey hydrogen) and that coal gasification is an established means of producing gaseous hydrogen-rich streams.
How to extend
A student could infer that if coal gasification yields H2/CO-containing gas, they should check whether H2/CO (syngas) can be chemically converted into liquid alcohols like ethanol.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > Pyrolysis/Ga*ification > p. 293
Strength: 5/5
“Pyrolysis is a process of chemical decomposition of organic matter brought about by heat. In this process, the organic material is heated in the absence of air until the molecules thermally break down to become a gas comprising smaller molecules (known collectively as syngas). Gaeificatiorl can also take place as a result of partial combustion of organic matter in the presence of a restricted quantity of oxygen or air. The gas so produced is known as producer gas. The gases produced by pyrolysis mainly comprise carbon monoxide (z5olo), hydrogen and hydrocarbons (r5Yo), and carbon dioxide and nitrogen (6o70). The next step is to'clean'the syngas or producer gas.”
Why relevant
Defines pyrolysis/gasification as processes that produce syngas composed mainly of CO, H2 and hydrocarbons and notes the need to 'clean' syngas before further use.
How to extend
One could extend this by looking up catalytic processes that use cleaned syngas (CO + H2) as feedstock to synthesize chemicals or fuels, including whether ethanol is among them.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > Methanol Economy > p. 604
Strength: 5/5
“Methanol is a low-carbon, hydrogen carrier fuel. It is produced from high ash coal, agricultural residue, CO<sub>2</sub> from thermal power plants, etc. Methanol Economy program is initiated by NITI Aayog. It is aimed to reduce import of crude oil and reduce GHG emissions. It also intends to convert coal reserves and municipal solid waste into methanol and set up Methanol Production Plants. Blending of 15 per cent methanol in gasoline can result in at least 15 per cent reduction in import of gasoline/crude. It will reduce GHG emissions by 20 per cent in terms of particulate matter, NO<sub>x</sub> and SO<sub>x</sub>.”
Why relevant
Describes that methanol is produced from coal and other carbon sources (including converting coal reserves into methanol), showing an example of converting coal-derived syngas into a liquid oxygenate fuel.
How to extend
A student could compare the industrial pathway from syngas→methanol with possible syngas→ethanol routes to judge plausibility and search for analogous catalytic processes for ethanol.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > 22.6 BIOMASS > p. 292
Strength: 3/5
“Biomass, on the other hand, releases carbon dioxide that is largely balanced by the carbon dioxide captured in its own growth (depending how much energy was used to grow, harvest, and process the fuel) Chemical processes like gasification, combustion and pyrolysis convert biomass to useful products. Combustion being the most common of them. Each of the technologies mentioned produces a major calorific end product and a mixture of by-products. The processing method is selected on the basis of nature.”
Why relevant
Notes that biomass gasification also produces syngas which is then processed to useful products, indicating a general pattern: gasification → syngas → downstream chemical synthesis.
How to extend
Use this general pattern to ask whether the downstream products from syngas can include ethanol and to investigate technologies that convert biomass- or coal-derived syngas into alcohols.
Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Carbon and its Compounds > Alcohol as a fuel > p. 73
Strength: 3/5
“Sugarcane plants are one of the most efficient convertors of sunlight into chemical energy. Sugarcane juice can be used to prepare molasses which is fermented to give alcohol (ethanol). Some countries now use alcohol as an additive in petrol since it is a cleaner fuel which gives rise to only carbon dioxide and water on burning in sufficient air (oxygen).”
Why relevant
Explains ethanol production via fermentation of biomass (sugarcane) as the common route for ethanol, highlighting that biological routes are established alternatives to chemical synthesis.
How to extend
A student could use this to contrast biological fermentation routes with potential chemical synthesis from syngas, prompting investigation of when chemical (syngas-based) routes are used instead of fermentation.
States that coal (or lignite) gasification produces hydrogen (grey hydrogen) and that coal gasification is an established means of producing gaseous hydrogen-rich streams.
A student could infer that if coal gasification yields H2/CO-containing gas, they should check whether H2/CO (syngas) can be chemically converted into liquid alcohols like ethanol.
Defines pyrolysis/gasification as processes that produce syngas composed mainly of CO, H2 and hydrocarbons and notes the need to 'clean' syngas before further use.
One could extend this by looking up catalytic processes that use cleaned syngas (CO + H2) as feedstock to synthesize chemicals or fuels, including whether ethanol is among them.
Describes that methanol is produced from coal and other carbon sources (including converting coal reserves into methanol), showing an example of converting coal-derived syngas into a liquid oxygenate fuel.
A student could compare the industrial pathway from syngas→methanol with possible syngas→ethanol routes to judge plausibility and search for analogous catalytic processes for ethanol.
Notes that biomass gasification also produces syngas which is then processed to useful products, indicating a general pattern: gasification → syngas → downstream chemical synthesis.
Use this general pattern to ask whether the downstream products from syngas can include ethanol and to investigate technologies that convert biomass- or coal-derived syngas into alcohols.
Explains ethanol production via fermentation of biomass (sugarcane) as the common route for ethanol, highlighting that biological routes are established alternatives to chemical synthesis.
A student could use this to contrast biological fermentation routes with potential chemical synthesis from syngas, prompting investigation of when chemical (syngas-based) routes are used instead of fermentation.
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