The aim of the study is to determine the mercury content in hard coal, randomly taken from the USCB and in by-products of hard coal mining (fresh mining waste), i.e. aggregates (gangue) and hard coal sludge and mining waste from the Siersza dump (weathered waste). The 34 samples were intended for analysis. The total mercury content and the amount of mercury leaching from solid samples was determined. The percentage of the leaching form in the total element content, i.e. the level of mercury release from the material (leaching level), was also calculated. The amount of mercury leaching was determined by a static method using a batch test 1:10. The highest possibility of leaching mercury is characterized by weathered waste from the Siersza dump and slightly lower analyzed hard coal from the U pper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB). For hard coal samples, the total mercury content is between 0.0275–0.1236 mg/kg. However, the amount of mercury leaching from coal samples is 0.0008–0.0077 mg/kg. The aggregate is characterized by a higher total mercury content in the finest fraction 0–6 mm, within 0.1377–0.6107 mg/kg and much lower in the 80-120 mm fraction, within 0.0508–0.1274 mg/kg. The amount of elution is comparable in both fractions and amounts to 0.0008–0.0057 mg/kg. Coal sludge has a total mercury content of 0.0937–0.2047 mg/kg. L ow leaching values of 0.0014–0.0074 mg/ kg are also observed. Weathered mining waste has a total mercury content of 0.0622–0.2987 mg/kg. However, leaching values from weathered waste are much higher than from fresh mining waste. This value is 0.0058–0.0165 mg/kg. In the hard coal extracted from U SCB, the leaching level is 4.7% on average. Mining waste is characterized by a large variation in the proportion of mercury leaching form and the differences result from the seasoning time of the samples. Waste or by-products of hard coal production, such as aggregates and coal sludge, show a mercury washout form at an average level of 1.7%. The proportion of leachable form in weathered waste increased strongly to 7.3%. Elution characteristics vary for different groups of materials tested. Factors such as the type and origin of samples, their granulometric composition and the seasoning time of the material are of fundamental importance and demonstrated in the work.

The new legislative provisions, regulating the trade in solid fuels in our country, draw attention to the need to develop and improve methods and methods of managing hard coal sludge. The aim of the work was to show whether filtration parameters (mainly the permeability coefficient) of hard coal sludge are sufficient for construction of insulating layers in landfills at the stage of their closing and what is the demand for material in the case of such a procedure. The analysis was carried out for landfills for municipal waste in the Opolskie, Śląskie and Małopolskie provinces. For hard coal sludge, the permeability coefficient values are in the range of 10–8–10–11 m/s, with the average value of 3.16 × 10–9 m/s. It can be concluded that this material generally meets the criteria of tightness for horizontal and often vertical flows. When compaction, increasing load or mixing with fly ash from hard coal combustion and clays, the achieved permeability coefficient often lowers its values. Based on the analysis, it can be assumed that hard coal sludge can be used to build mineral insulating barriers. At the end of 2016, 50 municipal landfills were open in the Opolskie, Śląskie and Małopolskie Provinces. Only 36 of them have obtained the status of a regional installation, close to 1/3 of the municipal landfill are within the Major Groundwater Basin (MGB) range. The remaining storage sites will be designated for closure. Assuming the necessity to close all currently active municipal waste landfills, the demand for hard coal sludge amounts to a total of 1,779,000 m3 which, given the assumptions, gives a mass of 2,704,080 Mg. The total amount of hard coal sludge production is very high in Poland. Only two basic mining groups annually produce a total of about 1,500,000 Mg of coal sludge. The construction of insulating layers in landfills of inert, hazardous and non-hazardous and inert wastes is an interesting solution. Such an application is prospective, but it will not solve the problem related to the production and management of this waste material as a whole. It is important to look for further solutions.

Zgodnie z Rozporządzeniem Ministra Gospodarki z dnia 16 lipca 2015 roku w sprawie dopuszczania odpadów do składowania na składowiskach (Dz.U. z 2015 r., poz. 1277) frakcje odpadów komunalnych o cieple spalania wyższym niż 6 MJ/kg nie mogą być składowane na składowiskach odpadów innych niż niebezpieczne i obojętne. Istnieje zatem konieczność wydzielenia tych frakcji i skierowanie ich do przetwarzania innymi metodami. W pracy podjęto działania w celu oszacowania wskaźników liczbowych, które pozwoliłyby na obliczanie i prognozowanie masy odpadów komunalnych wytwarzanych przez mieszkańców a mogących stanowić paliwo alternatywne, jednocześnie zmniejszając masę odpadów kierowanych do składowania. Analizie poddano liczne dane literaturowe, które dotyczą wartości opałowych oraz ciepła spalania poszczególnych frakcji morfologicznych. Wielkość wytwarzania odpadów komunalnych przez mieszkańców oraz skład morfologiczny odpadów są zróżnicowane dla różnych obszarów. Przeanalizowano strumień odpadów komunalnych wytwarzanych i zbieranych w sposób selektywny, jak też w sposób zmieszany w podziale na duże miasto (powyżej 50 000 mieszkańców), małe miasto (poniżej 50 000 mieszkańców) oraz obszary wiejskie. Ze względu na zakaz składowania odpadów dla których ciepło spalania jest wyższe niż 6 MJ/kg, założono, że frakcje takie można uznać za energetyczne, chociaż literatura podaje, że odpady stosowane jako paliwa powinny wykazywać wartość opałową na minimalnym dwukrotnie wyższym poziomie. Obowiązujący Krajowy plan gospodarki odpadami 2022 (M.P. z 2016 r., poz. 784) pozwala na zrównanie wskaźnika wytwarzania odpadów komunalnych na obszarach o różnym charakterze zabudowy na prognozowanym w 2025 roku poziomie 302–313 kg/mieszkańca/rok (kg/M/rok), jednak udziały poszczególnych frakcji morfologicznych są odmienne. Na podstawie przeprowadzonej szerokiej analizy danych literaturowych można stwierdzić, że poszczególne frakcje morfologiczne odpadów komunalnych charakteryzują się zdecydowaną zmiennością wartości opałowej. Najwyższą wartością opałową na poziomie 22–46 MJ/kg charakteryzują się tworzywa sztuczne. Wartość opałowa odpadów z tworzyw sztucznych jest wysoka, porównywalna do paliw kopalnych. Kolejne frakcje morfologiczne charakteryzują się wartością opałową, na niższym, ale również wysokim poziomie: papier i tektura 11–26 MJ/kg, tekstylia 15–16 MJ/kg, drewno 11–20 MJ/kg oraz odpady wielomateriałowe 16 MJ/kg. Wartość opałowa wymienionych powyżej odpadów generalnie przekracza 12 MJ/kg i spełnia minimalne wymagania stawiane odpadom, które mogą być stosowane jako paliwa. Pozostałe analizowane frakcje odpadowe charakteryzują się wartością opałową poniżej 6 MJ/kg. W strumieniu wytwarzanych odpadów komunalnych na poszczególnych obszarach frakcje energetyczne zajmują znaczący udział. Przy zrównanym wskaźniku wytwarzania największy udział frakcji energetycznych (powyżej 6 MJ/kg, a nawet 12 MJ/kg) obserwowany jest w odpadach generowanych przez mieszkańców dużego miasta i wynosi 39%, nieco niższy w odpadach generowanych przez mieszkańców małego miasta na poziomie 29%, a najniższy w odpadach generowanych przez mieszkańców obszarów wiejskich na poziomie 22%. Oszacowany wskaźnik wytwarzania frakcji energetycznych w strumieniu odpadów komunalnych zmienia się od 122 kg/M/rok dla obszaru dużego miasta do 67 kg/M/rok dla obszaru wiejskiego.

In the process of extraction and enrichment of coal waste, considerable quantities of waste material are produced, mainly the gangue and coal sludge, considered as waste or raw material. The main directions of the management development of the waste rock are the production of aggregates, the production of energy products and the liquidation works in hard coal mines and the filling of excavations. The paper proposes the extension of these activities to the use of waste material. The possibility of using aggregates or extractive waste to fill open-pit excavations has been proposed, also in areas within the reach of groundwater and the possibility of building insulation layers of waste material and the production of mixtures of hard coal sludge and sewage sludge to produce material with good energy properties. The analysis was based on the author’s own research and literature data related to selected parameters of waste material. This paper presents our own preliminary studies on the amount of combustion heat and the calorific value of coal sludge combined with other wastes such as sewage sludge. The proposed methods and actions are part of the current directions of development, but they allow the extension of the scope of use of both extractive waste and products produced on the basis of gangue or coal sludge. Due to the frequent lack of the stable composition of these materials, their current properties should be assessed each time before attempting to use them. The fact that it is important to continue research to promote existing economic use and to seek new activities or methods has been concluded.

The new legislative provisions, regulating the solid fuel trade in Poland, and the resolutions of

provincial assemblies assume, inter alia, a ban on the household use of lignite fuels and solid fuels

produced with its use; this also applies to coal sludge, coal flotation concentrates, and mixtures

produced with their use. These changes will force the producers of these materials to find new

ways and methods of their development, including their modification (mixing with other products

or waste) in order to increase their attractiveness for the commercial power industry. The presented

paper focuses on the analysis of coal sludge, classified as waste (codes 01 04 12 and 01 04 81)

or as a by-product in the production of coals of different types. A preliminary analysis aimed at

presenting changes in quality parameters and based on the mixtures of hard coal sludge (PG SILESIA)

with coal dusts from lignite (pulverized lignite) (LEAG) has been carried out. The analysis

of quality parameters of the discussed mixtures included the determination of the calorific value,

ash content, volatile matter content, moisture content, heavy metal content (Cd, Tl, Hg, Sb, As, Pb,

Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, and W), and sulfur content. The preliminary analysis has shown that mixing

coal sludge with coal dust from lignite and their granulation allows a product with the desired quality

and physical parameters to be obtained, which is attractive to the commercial power industry.

Compared to coal sludge, granulates made of coal sludge and coal dust from lignite with or without

ground dolomite have a higher sulfur content (in the range of 1–1.4%). However, this is still an

acceptable content for solid fuels in the commercial power industry. Compared to the basic coal

sludge sample, the observed increase in the content of individual toxic components in the mixture

samples is small and it therefore can be concluded that the addition of coal dust from lignite or carbonates

has no significant effect on the total content of the individual elements. The calorific value

is a key parameter determining the usefulness in the power industry. The size of this parameter for

coal sludge in an as received basis is in the range of 9.4–10.6 MJ/kg. In the case of the examined

mixtures of coal sludge with coal dust from lignite, the calorific value significantly increases to

the range of 14.0–14.5 MJ/kg (as received). The obtained values increase the usefulness in the

commercial power industry while, at the same time, the requirements for the combustion of solid

fuels are met to a greater extent. A slight decrease in the calorific value is observed in the case of

granulation with the addition of CaO or carbonates. Taking the analyzed parameters into account,

it can be concluded that the prepared mixtures can be used in the combustion in units with flue gas

desulfurization plants and a nominal thermal power not less than 1 MW. At this stage of work no

cost analysis was carried out.

Significant quantities of coal sludge are created during the coal enrichment processes in the mechanical processing plants of hard coal mines (waste group 01). These are the smallest grain classes with a grain size below 1 mm, in which the classes below 0.035 mm constitute up to 60% of their composition and the heat of combustion is at the level of 10 MJ/kg. The high moisture of coal sludge is characteristic, which after dewatering on filter presses reaches the value of 16–28% (Wtot r) (archival paper PG SILESIA). The fine-grained nature and high moisture of the material cause great difficulties at the stage of transport, loading and unloading of the material. The paper presents the results of pelletizing (granulating) grinding of coal sludge by itself and the piling of coal sludge with additional material, which is to improve the sludge energy properties. The piling process itself is primarily intended to improve transport possibilities. Initial tests have been undertaken to show changes in parameters by preparing coal sludge mixtures (PG SILESIA) with lignite coal dusts (LEAG). The process of piling sludge and their mixtures on an AGH laboratory vibratory grinder construction was carried out. As a result of the tests, it can be concluded that all mixtures are susceptible to granulation. This process undoubtedly broadens the transport possibilities of the material. The grain composition of the obtained material after granulation is satisfactory. Up to 2 to 20 mm granules make up 90–95% of the product weight. The strength of the fresh pellets is satisfactory and comparable for all mixtures. Fresh lumps subjected to a test for discharges from a height of 700 mm can withstand from 7 to 14 discharges. The strength of the pellets after longer seasoning, from the height of 500 mm, shows different values for the analyzed samples. The values obtained for hard coal sludge and their blends with brown coal dust are at the level from 4 to 5 discharges. The strength obtained is sufficient to determine the possibility of their transport. At this stage of the work it can be stated that the addition of coal dust from lignite does not cause the deterioration of the material’s strength with respect to clean coal sludge. Therefore, there is no negative impact on the transportability of the granulated material. As a result of mixing with coal dusts, it is possible to increase their energy value (Klojzy-Karczmarczyk at al. 2018). The cost analysis of the analyzed project was not carried out.

The heavy metal content is one of the criteria for foundry dust commercial use. To assess the possibility of foundry dust use, it is necessary to analyze its composition, including the content of basic heavy metals, and its mechanical properties. The paper presents the results of research on foundry dust from one of the Polish foundries. The aim of the study was to assess the waste management based on its composition and content of heavy metals. Dust samples were taken from one of the Polish foundries, producing iron and steel castings. Samples were taken from several places in the foundry, i.e. from electric furnace dust collectors, shock grating unit, transport of moulding sands unit, pneumatic blast cabinet units and the regeneration of spent foundry sand units. Samples were taken twice from each place at the turn of 2017–2018. The total content of heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Mn, and Fe for recovery and additionally Hg as environmental pollution was analyzed. Based on the results of the research, it was found that the dust from foundry furnaces and pneumatic cleaners can be used in metallurgy due to a high percentage of iron. It was found that the dust from casting cleaning, transport and regeneration department can be used in the cement or construction industry. In addition, an assessment of the mercury content showed that the re-use of this dust would not cause an environmental hazard. It was found that the profitability of foundry dust use depends on the stability of its composition and requires testing for each batch of dusts.

Sixteen samples were designed for analysis (hard coal, aggregate – barren rock, hard coal sludge). The total mercury content and the amount of mercury leaching were determined. The percentage of leachable form in the total content was calculated. The studies were carried out under various pH medium. The leachability under conditions close to neutral was determined in accordance with the PN EN 12457/1-4 standard. The leachability under acidic medium (pH of the solution – approx. 3) was determined in accordance with principles of the TCLP method. The mercury content was determined by means of the AAS method. For hard coal the total mercury content was 0.0384–0.1049 mg/kg. The level of leaching on mean was 2.6%. At the acidic medium the amount of leaching increases to an mean 4.1%. The extractive waste of aggregate type features a higher total mercury content in the finest fraction < 6 mm (up to 0.4564 mg/kg) and a lower content in the fraction 80–120 mm (up to 0.1006 mg/kg). The aggregate shows the percentage of the leachable form on mean from 1.4 to 2.2%. With pH decreasing to approx. 3, the amount of leaching grows up to mean values of 1.7–3.2%. Coal sludge features the total mercury content of 0.1368–0.2178 mg/kg. The percentage of mercury leachable form is approx. 1.8%. With pH decreasing the value increases to mean value of 3.0%. In general, the leachability of mercury from hard coals and extractive waste is low, and the leachability in an acidic medium grows approx. twice. Such factors as the type and origin of samples, their grain composition, and the pH conditions, have basic importance for the process. The time of waste seasoning and its weathering processes have the greatest impact on increasing the leaching of mercury from the extractive waste.

The leachability of pollutants from asbestos-containing waste, previously used for roofing was investigated. Laboratory tests were performed under static conditions (tests 1–20) in accordance with the TCLP methodology (with the use of acetic acid as the leaching medium, initial pH = 3.15). The maintaining of constant leaching conditions proved to be impossible at the experimental stage. Following the stabilization of conditions, the pH range for the obtained solutions increased to an average value of 8.3. Aluminum, boron, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, nickel, lead, strontium, zinc, and mercury were identified in the eluate. The low leachability of individual metals under the planned conditions was observed. In general, no leaching of such metals as cadmium, nickel, and lead was observed. The mercury content in the eluates is below the quantification limit, but the obtained values fall to around the limit of detection for the element. As compared with leaching with the use of distilled water (Klojzy-Karczmarczyk et al. 2021), zinc and boron additionally appear in eluates. The determined value of leachability for the individual analyzed elements increases from double to a few times with the use of the TCLP method. The value of leaching for barium is on average 5.56 mg/kg, for chromium it is 1.10 mg/kg, for copper 0.26 mg/kg, and for iron 0.80 mg/kg. In addition, the leaching of boron of around 3.00 mg/kg and of zinc 1.84 mg/kg was found. Higher leachability values were found only for strontium and aluminum. The leaching of strontium is on average around 62 mg/kg. While the leaching of aluminum is lower than values identified in the previous tests with the use of distilled water and is around 2.76 mg/kg. Products of leaching contain mainly pollutants characteristic of cement (aluminum, strontium, and iron).

The asbestos removal in Poland is carried out based on the Programme of Country Cleaning from Asbestos for the Years 2009–2023. Pursuant to this document asbestos-containing materials should be removed from the territory of the whole country by the end of 2032. The pace of asbestoscontaining products removal was estimated and also the time necessary to implement this process. These figures were estimated using two resources of data. The data gathered in the Asbestos Database (Asbestos Database... 2022) were analysed, and the analysis of detailed stocktaking and its update for 20 selected communes of various nature was carried out. The pace of removing in the analysed communes is definitely diversified. The obtained values generally range from 0.28 to 6.35 kg/R/y (kg per resident/year). An averaged pace of asbestos removal for the entire country is from 2.24 to 3.65 kg/R/y, depending on the adopted method of calculations. The analysis has shown that considering the current pace of asbestos-containing products removing, these materials will not be removed from the area of Poland by the set date, i.e. by the end of 2032. In individual provinces the amount of asbestos and the pace of removal are drastically different. Retaining the current pace of asbestoscontaining products removing, such products will disappear from Poland only within 27–193 years, depending on the province. An average pace of removal, given for the country scale, allows to state that 83 years are needed for the total removal of asbestos products.

Hard coal sludge is classified as group 01 waste or it is a by-product in the production of a hard coal with variable energy importance. Pulverized lignite is not waste but a final product of drying and the very fine pulverization of lignite with a high calorific value. The study comprised the basic material before granulation such as coal sludge (PG SILESIA) and pulverized lignite (LEAG) as well as their prepared blends after the granulation on a pipe vibration granulator designed at AGH. The pulverized lignite of the LEAG company shows a low sulfur contents. In the analyzed samples its average content (Stot d) is 0.61%. An average value of this parameter in the analyzed coal sludge samples is 0.55%. The addition of pulverized lignite does not have a significant impact on the total content of sulfur and of analyzed toxic elements (Hg, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl, and W) in the samples. The calorific value of coal sludge falls within the range of 11.0−12.4 MJ/kg (on a dry basis). For the coal sludge and pulverized lignite blends the calorific value clearly increases to values of 14.8−17.7 MJ/kg (on dry basis). The calorific value slightly decreases in the

Asbestos cement sheets on building roofs and façades as well as asbestos cement water and sewerage pipes are the most frequently existing elements that contain asbestos in Poland. During removal from a specific building such a material automatically becomes hazardous waste. The presented paper covers studies carried out on leachability of pollutants from asbestos-containing waste, previously used for roofing. Laboratory tests under static conditions were carried out (1:10 test, pursuant to rules of the PN-EN 12457/1-4 standard) using distilled water as the leaching medium. Aluminium, boron, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, nickel, lead, strontium, zinc, and mercury were determined in the eluate. Low leachability of individual metals under the planned conditions was observed. In general, such metals as cadmium, nickel, lead, zinc, boron and mercury were not observed in solutions. The other analysed metals were observed in eluates, but their concentrations were usually low. The low leachability was found for barium (0.019 to 0.419 mg/dm3), chromium (0.019 to 0.095 mg/dm3), copper (0.006 to 0.019 mg/dm3), and iron (<0.01 to 0.017 mg/dm3). Increased leachability values were found only for strontium, between 0.267 and 4.530 mg/dm3, and aluminium, ranging from 0.603 to 3.270 mg/dm3. The analysed asbestos and cement materials feature a low percentage content of asbestos in flat and corrugated asbestos cement sheets (10–15%). Because of that it is possible to presume that pollutants characteristic of cement will be mainly present in products of leaching.