Sustainable Coal Beneficiation

Dear Colleagues,

Coal continues to serve as a significant energy source, and its role in energy generation is expected to persist for decades, especially in developing economies facing limitations in swiftly adopting renewable and alternative energy sources. In light of its well-documented environmental impact, it is increasingly vital to continue coal research, with a focus on reducing the carbon footprint of both existing and emerging technologies. This approach seeks to strike a balance between energy security, affordability, and environmental concerns.

Current global coal reserves are estimated to be approximately 1035 billion tons, a supply projected to last roughly 140 years at current production rates. Unfortunately, the quality of the remaining coal resources is declining. Poor-quality coal with high ash content and low calorific value can lead to inefficiencies in the combustion process, resulting in higher CO2 emissions per unit of energy produced.

The beneficiation of coal plays a critical role in future coal-based electricity generation, alongside improved combustion or gasification processes aimed at achieving sustainability goals. A similar approach applies to coal used as a reductant in metallurgical processes. This Special Issue is dedicated to exploring innovative and efficient coal beneficiation methods that can reduce the carbon footprint in subsequent utilization stages.

This Special Issue is organized into four sections:

• Section 1: Enhancing the efficiency of existing coal beneficiation processes.
• Section 2: Dry coal beneficiation and dewatering.
• Section 3: Fine coal processing.
• Section 4: Reprocessing coal discards.

We believe that this Special Issue will serve as a valuable resource for advancing our understanding of coal beneficiation and its role in minimizing environmental impacts while ensuring the continued use of coal as an energy source.

Prof. Dr. Quentin Peter Campbell
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• advanced processing technologies
• waste dump reprocessing
• fine processing
• dry processing
• alternative utilization of coal products
• greenhouse gas reduction