Trace Elements in Coal-Based Resources: Occurrence, Enrichment and Recovery

Dear Colleagues

Trace elements, an associated matter of coal utilization, have been of interest for nearly a century. Their unique properties decide their applications as geochemistry indictors for coal origin, history and coalification. The large-scale and extensive use of coal over the past 50 years has given rise to environmental concerns regarding the discharge of trace elements, especially toxic ones. Over the last 30 years, trace elements, particularly critical ones, have gained considerable attention from researchers, companies and governments due to the extending gap between market demands and their traditional supplies.

Trace elements in coal at specifical locations are enriched in considerable amounts, with the potential to be considered for industrial recovery. However, their recovery is hindered by the presence of heavy stones or challenges from occurrence modes, separation and enrichment, extraction technologies and environmental concerns. Thus, scientific researchers have been encouraged by the utilization of trace elements in coal-based resources to explore their migration and occurrence, reveal their mechanisms of enrichment and extraction and the development of novel techniques for their recovery. The evaluation of a trace element’s value in coal is also welcome, due to the limitation of a low content and noticeable costs.

The Special Issue aims to offer a platform for discussions regarding recent progress in the extraction of trace elements in coal-based resources. Research papers or reviews concerning materials (coal, shale, refuse, ash, mine drainage, etc.) and interests (characterization, process, remediation, recovery, the evaluation of environment/economic factors, etc.) are encouraged. Three field have been organized for convenience and understanding.

Section 1: The occurrence modes of trace elements in coal-based resources: studies regarding the occurrence modes of both valuable and toxic trace elements in coal-based resources, the transformation of trace elements during the combustion, conversion and weathering of coal-based resources and their environmental effects and changes in the occurrence modes of trace elements during enrichment and recovery.

Section 2: The enrichment of trace elements in coal-based resources: studies regarding the enrichment of trace elements in coal-based resources using physical and/or physicochemical methods, such as gravity, adsorption and froth flotation separations.

Section 3: The recovery of trace elements from coal-based resources: studies regarding the recovery of trace elements from coal-based resources using chemical methods and the production of high-purity trace element products from coal-based resources.

Dr. Jinhe Pan
Dr. Wencai Zhang
Dr. Wei Cheng
Guest Editors

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