• Energy Research

The chemical composition of coal ash and the content of the critical elements Ga, Sc, and V in coal and ash are examined herein. In this study, lignite and bituminous coal from Polish deposits were used. The coals were subjected to ultimate and proximate analysis; the petrographic composition was determined based on maceral groups. The chemical composition of ash and the content of critical elements were determined using ICP-MS. The obtained results were correlated and Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient was determined. Based on the correlation analysis, the relationship between the chemical composition of ash and the proximate and ultimate analyses was demonstrated. The content of selected critical elements in the tested deposits was lower than the Clarke value in coal. However, in some deposits these contents are much higher in coal ashes. The higher levels of Ga, V, and Sc in the ash are associated with Al2O3. Therefore, it can be stated that ashes can be a potential source of some raw materials. The highest concentrations of critical elements in coal and ash were recorded in the Lublin Coal Basin. Supra-Clarke contents of Ga, V, and Sc were recorded in the Bogdanka coal mine.

The coal was gasified in a fluidized bed reactor with CO2 as a gasifying agent at 889–980 °C. The coal and gasification residue produced during gasification was burned at temperatures up to 900 °C. The petrographic analysis, gasification residues, and fly and bottom ash resulting from the combustion of coal and chars showed the efficiency of the gasification and combustion processes. The gasification residue primarily comprised inertoids and crassinetwork, which accounted for 60% of the sample. The analysis of the petrographic composition of fly ash revealed that the fly ash formed during the combustion of gasification residue had a higher mineral content. The fly ash from the combustion of gasification products contained significantly less unburned coal compared to that from coal. The samples of the bottom ash from coal combustion were composed of approximately 25% organic matter, most of which was chars. The bottom ash formed from the combustion of coal gasification products was composed mainly of mineral matter (95% or higher). The obtained results have significant implications in determining future waste management strategies.

Lignite (ulminite reflectance Rr = 0.27%) from the Szczerców deposit (Central Poland) is dominated by huminite group macerals, containing a high proportion of attrinite and densinite. Densinite and ulminite are more abundant in small aromatic units than attrinite, which may result from their stronger gelification. The differences in Raman spectral characteristics between attrinite and ulminite are more pronounced than between attrinite and densinite. Fusinite, in comparison with the huminite group macerals, is composed of larger, more varied aromatic systems. The D4 (1190–1200 cm−1) and D5 bands (1280–1290 cm−1), most likely, correspond to different chemical structures, and their origin should be further investigated.

In this paper, we discuss the impact of the rank of coal, petrographic composition, and physico-chemical coal properties on the release and composition of syngas during coal gasification in a CO2 atmosphere. This study used humic coals (parabituminous to anthracite) and lithotypes (bright coal and dull coal). Gasification was performed at temperatures between 600 and 1100 °C. It was found that the gas release depends on the temperature and rank of coal, and the reactivity increases with the increasing rank of coal. It was shown that the coal lithotype does not affect the gas composition or the process. Until 900 °C, the most intense processes were observed for higher rank coals. Above 1000 °C, the most reactive coals had a vitrinite reflectance of 0.5–0.6%. It was confirmed that the gasification of low-rank coal should be performed at temperatures above 1000 °C, and the reactivity of coal depends on the petrographic composition and physico-chemical features. It was shown that inertinite has a negative impact on the H2 content; at 950 °C, the increase in H2 depends on the rank of coal and vitrinite content. The physicochemical properties of coal rely on the content of maceral groups and the rank of coal. An improved understanding these relationships will allow the optimal selection of coal for gasification.

In Poland, special attention is focused on sustainable municipal waste management. As a result, new waste incineration plants are being planned. They are considered to be modern, ecologically friendly, and renewable energy sources. The waste from conventional incineration, which contains hazardous substances, must be disposed of in an appropriate manner. This study used advanced statistical tools, such as control charts, trend analysis, and time series analysis. The analysis was based on the leachability of selected elements and chemical compounds in incineration bottom ashes (IBAs) from the Waste to Energy Plant in Kraków, which were weathered for 2 weeks. The analysis was performed for 34 weeks. The obtained leachability results were compared with the leachability limit values of individual components. Based on the analysis of the control charts, it was found that in the case of selected samples, the leachability limit values for processing outside the plant using the R5 recovery process (LLVR5) values were exceeded. Seasonality analysis was performed using the autocorrelation function (ACF), the partial autocorrelation function (PACF), and the frequency analysis. Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that the leachability of elements and chemical compounds from waste does not confirm the occurrence of seasonality. It was found that from the exceedances of the LLVR5 mean that the two-week weathering is not sufficient and further studies should be carried out. The research methodology, which was presented on the example of the leachability of elements and compounds from IBA, can also be used for other waste analyses.

Critical raw materials are economically and strategically important for industry both in the short and long term. However, their supply is at high risk due to limited domestic deposits and reliance on imports. As demand for these materials grows, alternative sources must be explored. This study investigates the recovery of critical raw materials from waste, focusing on incineration residues, industrial byproducts, and electronic waste. The research analyzes various waste streams, including municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash and fly ash, as well as electronic and industrial waste, to determine their potential as secondary sources of critical materials. Key elements targeted for recovery include rare earth elements (REEs), antimony, vanadium, cobalt, and other strategic metals. The study evaluates the effectiveness of hydrometallurgical, pyrometallurgical, bioleaching, and electrochemical techniques for their extraction. Findings indicate that bottom ash contains 1–3% ferrous metals and up to 0.4% non-ferrous metals, including rare earth elements, while fly ash has substantial quantities of heavy metals suitable for recovery. The study highlights that large-scale recovery of critical raw materials from waste could reduce reliance on primary sources, support the circular economy, and enhance supply chain resilience in the context of energy transition. By providing a comprehensive assessment of recovery technologies and their economic and environmental implications, this study underscores the importance of waste as a valuable resource for critical material supply. The findings contribute to policy discussions on sustainable resource management and the reduction of geopolitical risks associated with raw material dependency.

The purpose of this study is to characterize and compare the microstructural features of the main morphotypes occurring in the char obtained at 850–950 °C by fluidized bed gasification of lignite from the “Szczerców” deposit (Central Poland), and to bring new insights into the knowledge on the origin of these morphotypes. Optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used. The char is composed mostly of crassinetwork and inertoid, accompanied by tenuinetwork and small amounts of fusinoid. Tenuinetwork originates mainly from textinite, crassinetwork is formed from attrinite, while inertoid results from transformation of strongly gelified macerals such as densinite and ulminite. Similarities in the microstructure of tenuinetwork and crassinetwork as well as inertoid and fusinoid are observed. Inertoid and fusinoid are composed of larger aromatic systems, with lower amount of alkyl-aryl structures, and their microstructure is better organized compared to tenuinetwork and crassinetwork. Inertoid and fusinoid differ in microscopic appearance and were formed from different starting materials, but their microstructural properties converged during gasification. Different morphological features of the network morphotypes (tenuinetwork, crassinetwork) are not reflected in the differences in their microstructural characteristics.

In an effort to identify new sources of critical raw materials (CRMs) possibility of recovering selected CRMs from Polish coals, chars, and ashes resulting from the combustion of coals and chars was investigated. The samples were collected from pilot fluidized bed gasification systems. The search for CRMs in coal gasification wastes has not been widely reported before. The study used 2 bituminous coal and 1 lignite sample; the concentration of individual critical raw materials (CRMs) was analyzed using the ICP-MS method. The obtained results were compared with Clarke values in coal ash and in the Earth’s crust, and with the adopted cut-off grade. As shown by the analysis, the highest concentrations of CRMs can be found in fly ash, mainly in samples from the eastern part of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. This applies mostly to Be, Cs, or Sb due to the fact that their concentrations were found to be higher than the Clarke value in the Earth’s crust; the mentioned fly ashes could be used as potential sources of critical elements if appropriate recovery technologies are developed. In addition, the tested materials have elevated Se, Pb, Ni concentrations, but their recovery is currently not economically viable. Compared to the currently adopted cut-off grade levels, there are no critical elements in the analyzed coal gasification waste that could be recovered.