The spontaneous combustion of coal or self-oxidation is a phenomenon encountered both in underground mines and coal deposits on the surface, which results from heating the carbonaceous materials by slow oxidation that may occur only through the passage of air (created by air depression). Coal oxidation process generates oxidation products which are also an environmental problem. If we consider the CO2 or CO, their composition depends on the coal properties and other factors from the process.
This paper aims to highlight the influence of coal properties and the constituent elements over the oxidation and self-oxidation resulted products and also to highlight their implications for environmental pollution and for the occupational health and safety field.