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Green flame retardant new strategy: Microbial induced carbonate precipitation inhibition of coal spontaneous combustion

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  • Liu, Jin-Di
  • Chen, Jian-Qiang
  • Hu, Xiang-Ming
  • Cheng, Wei-Min
  • Feng, Yue
  • Zhao, Yan-Yun
  • Liang, Yun-Tao
  • Wang, Fu-Sheng

Abstract

Coal spontaneous combustion is an important factor affecting coal safety production. In order to reduce the occurrence of coal spontaneous combustion, based on the green and environmentally friendly advantages of microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology, this article studied the possibility of inhibiting coal spontaneous combustion by subculturing urease-producing bacterial communities on coal. The results showed that subculture could optimize the microbial community structure in a targeted manner. When subculture to the third generation, the urease activity and mineralization rate (93.91 %) of the microbial community reached the peak. MICP could significantly improve the thermal stability of coal by increasing T1 (temperature point of maximum water loss rate) and T2 (temperature point of maximum heat loss rate) to 112.17 °C and 504.31 °C, respectively. Meanwhile, the cross-temperature point of coal could be significantly increased (7.04–7.75 %) during the temperature programmed process, and the CO production was reduced by 32170–32550 ppm with a maximum inhibition rate of 69.99 %. The microscopic mechanism revealed that the microorganisms encapsulated the coal as a dense whole by producing CaCO3 and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), effectively sealing the pores of the coal and reducing its specific surface area by a maximum of 94.61 %. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy further confirmed that the MICP treatment could significantly reduce the content of -COOH and C-O-C in the coal (21.50–88.49 %), thus achieving the effect of inhibiting spontaneous combustion of coal. This paper provides new insights and theoretical basis for the application of MICP in the field of coal spontaneous combustion prevention and control.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Jin-Di & Chen, Jian-Qiang & Hu, Xiang-Ming & Cheng, Wei-Min & Feng, Yue & Zhao, Yan-Yun & Liang, Yun-Tao & Wang, Fu-Sheng, 2025. "Green flame retardant new strategy: Microbial induced carbonate precipitation inhibition of coal spontaneous combustion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:339:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225047176
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.139075
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