Utilization of Coal Gangue in Sustainable Construction Materials
Summary
Coal gangue, a by-product of coal extraction and washing, represents one of the largest industrial solid wastes globally. Its mineral composition—rich in silica, alumina and residual carbon—renders it a promising feedstock for sustainable construction materials. Through physical activation (mechanical grinding, thermal treatment) and chemical activation (alkali or calcium sources), coal gangue can be transformed into geopolymeric binders and alkali-activated materials that offer comparable mechanical performance to traditional cement with significantly reduced carbon emissions. As an aggregate, both coarse and fine fractions of coal gangue have been employed in green concrete, yielding benefits in thermal insulation and resource conservation. Practical applications span structural elements, roadbed fills for railways and subgrade stabilisation. Challenges such as heavy-metal leaching, high water absorption and variability in raw gangue properties are being addressed through mix design optimisation, surface modification and the incorporation of supplementary admixtures. Overall, valorising coal gangue aligns with circular economy principles, alleviating waste stockpiles and lowering the environmental footprint of the construction sector.
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Utilization of Coal Gangue in Sustainable Construction Materials publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in utilization of coal gangue in sustainable construction materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Coal gangue: Industrial solid waste from coal mining, rich in silica, alumina and residual carbon, used as precursor or aggregate in construction materials.
Geopolymer: Inorganic polymer formed by alkali activation of aluminosilicate materials, yielding a three-dimensional network with cement-like properties.
Alkali activation: Chemical process in which a highly alkaline solution (e.g. sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate) dissolves and reconstitutes aluminosilicate precursors into binding gels.
Aggregate: Granular material (coarse or fine) added to binders in concrete, providing bulk, strength and thermal properties.
Pretreatment (mechanical/thermal): Processes such as grinding or calcination applied to raw gangue to enhance its chemical reactivity and surface area.
References
- Towards coal mining waste valorization: Gangue as resource for the production of geopolymer and related alkali-activated materials. Green Technologies and Sustainability (2025).
- Migration transformation, prevention, and control of typical heavy metal lead in coal gangue: a review. International Journal of Coal Science & Technology (2023).
- Application of Coal Gangue as a Coarse Aggregate in Green Concrete Production: A Review. Materials (2021).
- Using Chinese Coal Gangue as an Ecological Aggregate and Its Modification: A Review. Materials (2022).
- Activation Mechanism of Coal Gangue and Its Impact on the Properties of Geopolymers: A Review. Polymers (2022).
- Utilization of Coal Gangue Aggregate for Railway Roadbed Construction in Practice. Sustainability (2020).
- Mechanical Properties of Reactive Powder Concrete with Coal Gangue as Sand Replacement. Materials (2022).
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