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A review of coal gangue identification research—application to China’s top coal release process

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Abstract

Top coal caving is a process for the rational extraction of large amounts of coal resources. However, this process readily causes release of excessive amounts of gangue during the coal release process. The conventional technique, which involves visual inspection, is not only labor-intensive but also can introduce inaccuracies. Coal and gangue identification methods used during the top coal caving process are reviewed herein. The methods developed and studied over the last 20 years, such as gamma identification, acoustic identification, radar detection, vibration technology, image identification, and infrared positioning, are described separately, and their principles for use are explained. The advantages and disadvantages of these methods are analyzed, and an evaluation index for coal gangue identification methods is established by using hierarchical analysis (AHP). The results indicate that the γ-ray method is optimal to use under the current system. A future gangue identification method is conceived and proposed, which has reference value for the research and applications of gangue identification technology.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2021YJSNY28).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy and Mining Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), 305, General Building, Haidian District, Beijing, 100089, China

    Bo Xue, Yong Zhang, Jian Li & Yuyang Wang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100089, China

    Bo Xue, Yong Zhang, Jian Li & Yuyang Wang

Authors
  1. Bo Xue
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  2. Yong Zhang
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  3. Jian Li
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  4. Yuyang Wang
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Contributions

Data analysis and collection were done by B. Xue and J. Li. Methodology was done by Y.Y. Wang. Writing—original draft preparation was done by B. Xue. Writing—review and editing was done by B. Xue. Supervision was done by Y. Zhang. Project administration was done by Y.Zhang and Y.Y. Wang. Funding acquisition was done by Y. Zhang.

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Correspondence to Bo Xue.

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The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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Xue, B., Zhang, Y., Li, J. et al. A review of coal gangue identification research—application to China’s top coal release process. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 14091–14103 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24866-w

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