Coal to Coke at the Avenue

The Avenue Coke Works Processed coal to produce coke Coke used as a smokeless fuel and in the steel-making industry Wastes from the process left behind when the works closed in 1992

Coal to Coke Coal arrives by train from local coal mines Used over 2,000 tonnes of coal a day Produced 1,400 tonnes of coke per day

Coal to Coke Coal heated in tall coke ovens called batteries The Avenue had 106 coke ovens Ovens heated by recycled coke oven gas (mostly hydrogen and methane) Coal heated in the absence of air (1,500 o C for 18 hours) Drives out the volatile gases and leaves behind porous, solid coke

Coal to Coke Coke is a porous carbon fuel Used as a smokeless fuel to heat homes Used in blast furnaces for steel making The Avenue produced over 1,400 tonnes of coke per day Also produced: sulphuric acid, benzole, toluene, creosote and napthalene Image: Wikimedia

Heavy industry The Avenue works were considered very efficient when built in 1956 Would be thought of as polluting by today’s standards Wastes dumped on site Working at the Avenue, 1983

Oily waste Oily waste was just dumped into big ponds or lagoons The waste needs to be dug out and treated

Cleaning up the site Buildings have been cleared Waste is being removed Contaminated soil and water are being treated 1,100 new homes, business accommodation, recreation areas