Rethinking Coal: Chemicals and Carbon-Based Materials in the 21st Century is a timely presentation of the current uses and future impacts of coal and coal technologies.Three decades ago, coal was the dominant source of electricity generation in the U.S. and the recipient of moderate research efforts in the synthetic fuels arena. In recent years, though coal is still heavily discussed in the media, the focus has shifted towards the ill effects that coal mining and combustion have on the environment. As it is likely that we will have to rely on coal for a major share of electricity generation for decades to come, it is increasingly important to understand the current issues that surround coal, as well as future prospects for developing or applying coal technologies that have lesser impacts on the environment. In this book, author Harold Schobert discusses the current uses and future impacts of coal and coal technologies. Rethinking Coal: Chemicals and Carbon-Based Materials in the 21st C