High-ash coal slime resource utilization ways and current status of related research work

In order to overcome the difficulties encountered in utilization of high-ash coal slime, an analysis is made of the factors causing the difficulty in utilization of this resource based on characteristics of coal slime and its fine particle surface/interface properties.Following an introduction to the characteristics of the high-ash slime for utilization as a resource, the paper goes to elaborate on the ways to utilize this material, which are mainly used currently as boiler fuel, raw material of chemical industry, modified adsorbent and auxiliary material of other chemical processes.It is pointed out that enhancement of the added value of coal slime is one of the viable approaches for effective utilization of the material, and the surface of slime can be precisely regulated and modified on the basis of a clear understanding of the surface properties.Looking into the future, it is possible to effect enrichment and recovery of fine clay minerals and coal-measure clay from coal slime using selective flocculation and reverse flotation processes, as well as preparation of compounded phase-transformation materials.