Coal Gangue Utilization: Applications, Challenges, and Sustainable Development Strategies

Yinghui Sun, Bohao Bai, Xu Yang, Shujun Zhu, Jilin Tian, Zhuozhi Wang (), Li Xu (), Lianfei Xu and Boxiong Shen
Additional contact information
Yinghui Sun: School of Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
Bohao Bai: School of Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
Xu Yang: School of Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
Shujun Zhu: Shanxi Key Laboratory of Coal Flexible Combustion and Thermal Conversion, Datong 037000, China
Jilin Tian: Shanxi Key Laboratory of Coal Flexible Combustion and Thermal Conversion, Datong 037000, China
Zhuozhi Wang: School of Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
Li Xu: Anhui Special Equipment Inspection Institute, 45 Dalian Road, Hefei 230051, China
Lianfei Xu: School of Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
Boxiong Shen: School of Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-39

Abstract: Coal gangue is a kind of typical by-product emitted during the coal mining and washing process. With the increase in coal resource utilization, a large amount of coal gangue was not reasonably utilized, causing environmental pollution and resource waste. The main purpose of this article is to introduce the surface structural features and compositional characteristics of coal gangue and to summarize the utilization of coal gangue in the fields of building materials, energy production, agricultural utilization, and high-value-added areas such as catalysts and adsorbents. Secondly, this review discussed the environmental challenges and technical difficulties derived from the process of coal gangue utilization and how to solve these problems through innovative methods and technological improvements. Finally, the article proposed the development direction and strategies for the future resource utilization of coal gangue, emphasizing the importance of coal gangue as a sustainable resource and its significant role in achieving a circular economy for reducing environmental pollution. By analyzing the potentiality of coal gangue for resource utilization systematically, this article aims to provide valuable references and insights for researchers and decision-makers in related fields.

Keywords: coal gangue; environmental impact; energy applications; high-value products (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/444/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/444/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:2:p:444-:d:1571880

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().