Internal combustion engine the atmosphere by the reaction of and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight. Ground-level ozone is harmful to human health and the environment. Though the same chemical substance, ground-level ozone should not be confused with stratospheric ozone, or the ozone layer, which protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays. Carbon fuels contain sulfur and impurities that eventually produce sulfur monoxides (SO) and sulfur dioxide (SO) in the exhaust, which promotes acid rain. In the United States, nitrogen oxides, PM, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and ozone, are regulated as criteria air pollutants under the Clean Air Act to levels
Underground coal gasification oxidants (air, oxygen) and steam to ignite and fuel the underground combustion process. Separate production wells are used to bring the product gas to the surface. The high pressure combustion is conducted at temperature of , but it may reach up to . The process decomposes coal and generates carbon dioxide (), hydrogen (), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (). In addition, there are small quantities of various contaminants including sulfur oxides (), mono-nitrogen oxides (), and hydrogen sulfide (). As the coal face burns and the immediate area is depleted, the oxidants injected are controlled by the operator. There are