Why China is looking to coal waste as a source of critical metals

China is increasingly turning to its abundant coal waste, such as coal gangue and fly ash, as a significant source for critical metals including lithium, gallium, and germanium. The nation is capitalizing on its advanced extraction technologies and robust industrial infrastructure to recover these valuable resources.

Traditionally, coal gangue and fly ash were used merely as low-value cement additives, with their stockpiling consuming land and causing environmental pollution. However, scientists like Dai Shifeng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, recognize the potential of this waste. "The coal refuse contains a variety of metal elements and could become an important source of critical metal supply," Dai stated in an interview with China Energy News.

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The coal refuse contains a variety of metal elements and could become an important source of critical metal supply.

While countries like the United States, Australia, and Russia are also researching metal extraction from coal, China possesses distinct advantages. Its existing coal production lines often feature integrated facilities for washing, chemical processing, and power generation, providing a strong foundation for resource recovery. This existing infrastructure simplifies the process of extracting multiple metals from coal gangue and fly ash.

The rising demand for critical metals, driven by the new energy industry, makes extraction from coal a promising venture. China's prior experience with germanium extraction offers a solid base for recovering other metals. However, Dai cautioned that successful extraction requires meticulous tracking of coal quality and composition. Blending coal from different sources before combustion can lead to constantly changing metal content in fly ash, complicating extraction efforts.

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Some power plants blend coal from different sources before combustion. As a result, the metal content in fly ash from the same plant is constantly changing, making extraction difficult.