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Moisture and Carbon Content
Lignite contains more moisture than black coal; it also has a higher ash content and a lower carbon content than black coal. Because of its relatively low carbon content, lignite has the lowest heating value among the three types of coal: anthracite, sub-bituminous and bituminous coal. Brown coal is used most commonly for generating electricity in electricity-generating plants.
Production and Age
Approximately 25 percent of the world's recoverable brown coal is found in Australia. In fact, 68 million metric tons of brown coal are produced in Australia every year. As impressive as that seems, it's only about 7 percent of the brown coal produced annually worldwide. At the time of publication, Germany was the largest producer of brown coal, at 21 percent of annual world production, followed by Russia, Turkey, the United States and Australia. According to the Australian Atlas of Minerals Resources, Mines and Processing Centers, brown coal is approximately 15 to 50 million years old.
Primary Uses
After brown coal is extracted, it is used primarily in steam-generating boilers; these boilers are commonly situated near the actual coal mine from which the coal was extracted. Brown coal is used primarily for domestic and industrial heating; however, it can be used in the production of liquid fuel, solvents and cleaning solutions such as ammonia.
Other Uses
Lignite is also used in the production of bio-diesel and synthetic gas. Because of its high ash content, it is used as fertilizer as well; its high-ash content also makes it useful in the creation of certain types of metals. Lastly, lignite is used to make charcoal briquettes, which in turn power boilers and backyard barbecues.