Disposal of fine tailings from hard coal beneficiation

W artykule przedstawione zostały zagadnienia dotyczące drobnoziarnistych odpadów z procesu wzbogacania węgla kamiennego. Przedstawiono przykładowe wyniki badań drobnoziarnistych odpadów z trzech stawów osadowych mułów węgla energetycznego i jednego osadnika odpadów flotacyjnych węgla koksowego oraz ze zbiornika wodnego. Zaprezentowane wyniki badań pozwoliły na ocenę sposobu wykorzystania tych odpadów. W artykule przedstawiono również cel i założenia projektu rozwojowego pt.: "Identyfikacja potencjału energetycznego depozytów mułów węglowych w bilansie paliwowym kraju oraz strategia rozwoju technologicznego w zakresie ich wykorzystania" realizowanego przez Instytut Mechanizacji Budownictwa i Górnictwa Skalnego Oddział zamiejscowy :Centrum Gospodarki Odpadami" w Katowicach wraz z Katedrą Przeróbki Kopalin i Utylizacji Odpadów Politechniki Śląskiej.In the article the issues related to fine tailings produced as a result of hard coal beneficiation process are presented. The amount of waste produced as a result of coal extraction, features of fine tailings and mineralogical-petrographic composition are given. Possible methods of fine tailings usage are also presented. Results of research of fine tailings from three coal slurry impoundments of energetic coal, one flotation tailings pond of cocking coal and one water pond are shown. Presented results allow to assess the possibility of tailings usage. It was demonstrated that coal slurries from energetic coal can be used as a fuel for fluidized bed combustion. The results of research show that it is possible to reprocess flotation tailings stored for a long time in a pond using again flotation methods. It is necessary however to choose the right froth agent and its proper concentration in a process. It was also demonstrated that tailings deposited in a water pond have properties that allow their energetic usage. The purpose and assumptions of a new development project "Identification of energetic potential of coal slurries deposits in national fuel balance and strategy of technological development in the range of their usage" carried out by Institute of Mechanized Construction and Rock Mining division "Centre of Waste Disposal" in Katowice in cooperation with Department of Mineral Processing and Waste Disposal of Silesian University of Technology are presented. The purpose of a Project is to assess the possibility of including existing coal slurries deposits into national fuel balance. A project is in accordance with 2006/21/WE Directive of European Parliament and Commision regarding the management of waste from extractive industries and Act from 10th of July 2008 (Dz.U. z 2008 r. Nr 138, poz.865) regarding extractive waste that transposes Directive 2006/21/WE into Polish regulations