China Coal Technology and Research Institute: "Carbon" Seeks New Green Paths to Paint a New Picture of a Beautiful China 2025-06-06 14:30:19.0
June 5, 2025 marks the 54th World Environment Day.
The enrichment, utilization and emission reduction of coalbed methane help the Earth breathe freely
The China Coal Research Institute has innovatively developed a high-efficiency concentration technology for low-concentration coalbed methane. This technology is mainly aimed at effectively controlling the gas extraction and emission in coal mining areas and achieving the stepped-level utilization of gas resources. Through its independently developed high-efficiency carbon molecular sieve adsorbent and low-energy consumption pressure change adsorption process, it has broken through the technical bottleneck of selective adsorption and separation of methane and nitrogen. The methane concentration in coalbed methane has been successfully increased from 20% to over 90%, effectively avoiding the emission of non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases. This technology, with its significant advantages of high separation efficiency, low operating pressure and high methane recovery rate, has not only been successfully applied in multiple industrial projects built in Shanxi, Gansu, Henan and other places, cumulatively reducing carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by over one million tons, but also has broad application space in fields such as extracting high-purity helium from helium-containing coalbed methane, purifying associated gas from oil fields and shale gas. It plays a positive role in achieving the goal of "reducing emissions through gas extraction and increasing efficiency through gas production".
"Treatment - reduction - circulation - return", composing a green symphony of "resource utilization of pollution sources"
The Coal Research Institute has innovatively proposed the four-in-one circulation concept of "treatment - reduction - circulation - return", and developed the internationally leading internal circulation reduction technology of gas and water. Facing the challenge of nearly a thousand atmospheric pressure fixed-bed gasifiers in the building ceramics, magnesium and aluminum industries generating 3 million tons of gas-water annually, it pioneered the "waste heat drive - internal material circulation" technical path and developed core equipment such as multi-interface mass transfer devices and stepped heat exchangers. The first demonstration device of this technology has been completed in Ulanqab. It has processed nearly 10,000 tons of gas water from three 200,000 Nm3/d gasifiers, reducing the amount of phenol gas water by over 90% and lowering the cost of gas water treatment by over 80%. This provides a replicable green transformation model for the low-cost treatment of gas water from atmospheric fixed-bed gasifiers in the distributed industrial gas field. Let every drop of recycled water become a harmony that resonates between industry and nature.
Empowered by technology, it revives the new life of solid waste in mines
The Coal Research Institute has innovatively established a four-in-one technical system of "investigation - treatment - prevention - application", systematically solving complex ecological problems such as spontaneous combustion of coal gangue and land occupation. Independently developed precise fire source location and oxygen-isolating flame retardant technology, established a "three-dimensional barrier - ecological reconstruction" governance model, and promoted the transformation of gangue mountains from "black slag mountains" to green barriers. Innovated the collaborative governance path of "gangue solid waste - land reclamation", and implemented the transformation of medium and low-yield farmland by applying 12 patented technologies. In the Buliangou mining area, 158.7 hectares of farmland were restored, and the soil organic matter content increased by 3.2 times, creating a benchmark for systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes and grasslands. At the same time, it pioneered the "photovoltaic + ecological governance" model, using technologies such as grouting reinforcement in goat-lost areas and three-dimensional prevention and control in fire zones to support the construction of photovoltaic bases worth over 20 billion yuan in places like Datong and Yangquan, and transformed 26,000 mu of subsidence areas into clean energy bases. Gradually build up the value chain of "ecological restoration - resource regeneration - industrial value-added", and achieve a leapfrog development from environmental governance to ecological economic gain.
Green "blood" adds impetus to the development of intelligent mines
Focusing on the efficient utilization of water resources and environmental protection demands in coal mines, the Coal Research Institute has independently developed an environmentally friendly and intelligent controlled concentrated liquid for hydraulic supports. In response to the complex water quality and high mineralization degree of mine water in mining areas, an innovative technology of "nonionic + calcium soap dispersion + double-layer membrane special corrosion inhibition" was adopted to overcome the problems of insufficient product stability and corrosion resistance in the industry. This significantly increased the reuse rate of mine water and promoted the resource recycling to a new height. Meanwhile, based on vegetable oil and amino acids, multi-functional additives are synthesized through molecular design. While ensuring the excellent performance of the product, the amount of organic matter added to the product is significantly reduced, effectively lowering the COD value and achieving a qualitative leap in environmental protection performance. This technological breakthrough not only provides a reliable guarantee for the safety support of coal mines, but also injects powerful impetus into the construction of green mines, promotes the coordinated development of the ecological environment, and demonstrates the responsibility and commitment to safeguarding the ecological background through technological innovation.
"Beautiful China, I take the lead." The pace of ecological civilization construction at the China Coal Research Institute has never ceased. In the future, China Coal Technology and Research Institute will further leverage its professional characteristics and comprehensive advantages in "clean and low-carbon" and "mine safety", provide more "green solutions" for the industry, and write a colorful answer sheet of bluer skies, greener mountains and clearer waters with a sense of responsibility and commitment.
