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Components of Coal Tar

Converting raw coal into useful products produces a number of materials commonly used for other purposes than just oven fuel. Coal tar represents one of these byproducts, and exists as a gooey, black liquid that can be applied in a number of ways. The makeup of this material includes more than 200 different chemicals, so describing coal tar and what its components are tends to be a bit of a challenge.

  1. Components

    • Coal tar comes as either a black-colored or brown-colored gooey liquid. Some people describe its consistency as industrial pudding. The liquid emits a distinctly industrial, carbon-based smell as a result of the hydrocarbons involved. Produced as a coal-burning byproduct, the liquid includes more than 200 different chemicals and elements in its makeup. Almost all involve some version of carbon at the elemental level. Because there's so much variety in the raw coal source, makeup and heating level, coal tar liquid tends to vary from production to production, with some components making up a greater mix than others depending on the tar batch involved.

    Production

    • Coal tar gets produced as a distillate from raw coke and coal. When fairly hot temperatures ranging from 212 to 752 degrees are applied, the raw coal leaches off the coal tar chemicals, which pool and are drawn out as a separate liquid material from the cooking oven. The tar then gets mixed with additional chemicals to produce creosote.

    Uses

    • With the finished coal tar product, a variety of uses can be applied. Coal tar makes a well-performing sealant for asphalt, roads and parking lots. In areas with significant weather exposure, such a sealant helps preserve road material from breaking up prematurely. Coal tar can be used as a liquid fuel, but must be warmed up similar to a heavy oil, requiring heating to enhance feed flow. Coal tar can be found in cosmetics and special treatment hair care products since the chemical helps with dandruff and killing head lice. Finally, coal tar finds common use as a wood preservative in pressured wood, framing, and timber used for exposed structures.

    Exposure Concerns

    • The concentrated carbon-based chemicals in coal tar raise concerns with regards to prolonged human exposure, both in production and in product use. While the material is noted to be an irritant to workers' skin, eyes and respiratory systems, long-term conditions caused by exposure have not been documented. However, a number of the chemicals in coal tar are well-known for causing cancer or blood diseases. Benzene is one such included component.

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