Tula State University, Tula, Russia:

N. M. Kachurin, Head of a Сhair, Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, ecology@tsu.tula.ru

S. M. Bogdanov, Postgraduate student

Belgorod State University, Belgorod, Russia:
S. A. Vorobev, Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

Siberian Expert Organization, Prokopyevsk, Russia:
P. V. Vasilev, Chief Executive Officer, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

Having recognized occurrence of essential high-grade lignite reserves as well as presence of coal mining waste (dirt piles) and ash dumps left after coal combustion at heat power plants in the territory of Moscow lignite basin, the authors describe the developed, approved and patented methods and technologies for multipurpose coal use based on underground gasification of thin and medium-thick coal beds and with development and high-level processing of multi-component waste left after coal extraction and combustion. The article describes the geotechnology of underground gasification of lignite with treatment and burning of gas at local power plants, ash processing and use as a component of solidifying mixture for backfilling mined-out degassed voids and with purification of pumped-out mine water up to the condition of drinking water. The analysis of material constitution and concentration of valuable components, including rare earth metals in products of development and processing of ash dumps and dirt piles, confirms economic and ecological expediency of further appraisal, extraction and high-level processing of valuable marketable elements. The research findings prove feasibility and advisability of reaching the objective associated with recovering and integrated development in Moscow lignite basin, which will ensure social and economic self-sustainability of mono-towns in Central Russia, in particular, in the Tula Region.

1. Dymov V. S., Sychev A. I., Gurkin V. V. et al. Nedra Tulskoy oblasti (Tula Region soils). Tula : Grif i Ko, 2000. 124 p.
2. Gryazev M. V., Kachurin N. M., Zakharov E. I. Gornodobyvayushchaya otrasl v ekonomike Tulskoy oblasti. Sostoyanie i perspektivy (Mining industry in Tula Region economy. State and prospects). Izvestiya Tulskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta. Nauki o Zemle = News of the Tula State University. Sciences of Earth. Iss. 2. pp. 57–65.
3. Kaplunov D. R. Teoreticheskie osnovy proektirovaniya osvoeniya nedr: stanovlenie i razvitie (Theory basis of designing of subsoil mastering: formation and development). Gornyi Zhurnal = Mining Journal. 2014. No. 7. pp. 49–53.
4. Prabu V., Jayanti S. Underground coal-air gasification based solid oxide fuel cell system. Applied Energy. 2012. Iss. 94. pp. 406–414.
5. Wiatowski M., Stanczyk K., Swiadrowski J., Kapusta K., Cybulski K., Krause E., Grabowski J., Rogut J., Howaniec N., Smolinski A. Semi-technical underground coal gasification (UCG) using the shaft method in Experimental Mine «Barbara». Fuel. 2012. Iss. 99. pp. 170–179.
6. Gräbner M., Meyer B. Performance and exergy analysis of the current developments in coal gasification technology. Fuel. 2014. Vol. 116. pp. 910–920.
7. Kale G. R., Kulkarni B. D., Chavan R. N. Combined gasification of lignite coal: Thermodynamic and application study. Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. 2014. Iss. 45. pp. 163–173.
8. Bhattacharya S., Kabir K. B., Hein K. Dimethyl ether synthesis from Victorian brown coal through gasification–Current status, and research and development needs. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science. 2013. Vol. 39. Iss. 6. pp. 577–605.
9. Kachurin N. M., Zorkin I. E., Kachurin A. N., Mosina E. K. Sposob kompleksnogo osvoeniya mestorozhdeniya burogo uglya (Method of complex mastering of brown coal deposit). Patent RF, No. 2526953. Applied: May 31, 2013. Published: August 27, 2014. Bulletin No. 24.
10. Britan I. V., Leyzerovich S. G. O perspektivakh ispolzovaniya skvazhinnykh geotekhnologiy pri osvoenii mineralnykh resursov Belgorodskoy oblasti (Prospects for borehole geotechnologies in mineral mining in the Belgorod Region). Gornyi Zhurnal = Mining Journal. 2014. No. 8. pp. 49–52.
11. Trubetskoy K. N., Kaplunov D. R., Tomaev V. K., Pomelnikova I. I. Resursovosproizvodyashchie, ekologicheski sbalansirovannye geotekhnologii kompleksnogo osvoeniya mestorozhdeniy Kurskoy magnitnoy anomalii (Resource-reproducing and ecologically balanced geotechnologies for comprehensive exploitation of mineral deposits in the area of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly). Gornyi Zhurnal = Mining Journal. 2014. No. 8. pp. 45–48.
12. Chanturiya V. A., Kozlov A. P. Razvitie fiziko-khimicheskikh osnov i razrabotka innovatsionnykh tekhnologiy po glubokoy pererabotke tekhnogennogo mineralnogo syrya (Development of physical-chemical basis and working out of innovation technologies of deep processing of anthropogenic mineral raw materials). Gornyi Zhurnal = Mining Journal. 2014. No. 7. pp. 49–82.
13. Kachurin N. M., Kalaeva S. Z., Vorobev S. A. Poluchenie magnitnykh zhidkostey iz promyshlennykh otkhodov (Production of magnetic fluids from industrial wastes). Obogashchenie Rud = Mineral processing. 2015. No. 2. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.17580/or.2015.02.10.