A research team led by Professor Wei Zimin from the School of Life Sciences at Tianjin Normal University (TNU) has published an academic paper titled "Evaluation of coal gangue resource utilization: A study on the humification process and microbial community dynamics in composting with different particle sizes of coal gangue" in the journal Process Safety and Environmental Protection.

This study systematically evaluated the impact of adding coal gangue of different particle sizes to the food waste composting process, aiming to explore viable pathways for its resource utilization. The results indicate that the addition of coal gangue significantly influences the organic matter degradation rate, humic acid formation efficiency, and the structure of the microbial community. Among all treatment groups, the M1 group (with coal gangue particle size <0.5 mm) most effectively promoted organic carbon conversion and humic acid accumulation. Overall, smaller particle sizes of coal gangue play a crucial role in advancing the humification process and shaping the microbial community during composting.

The study reveals the potential of coal gangue as an amendment for organic waste composting. This approach not only enhances compost quality and stability but also provides a practical pathway for utilizing the industrial by-product coal gangue, offering both environmental and economic benefits. The findings deepen the understanding of coal gangue resource utilization and offer theoretical support and practical guidance for optimizing organic waste treatment and promoting the co-disposal of solid wastes.

Master's student Wen Xinzi from TNU is the first author of the paper, with Professor Wei Zimin serving as the corresponding author. TNU is the primary affiliation. The research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2024YFC3908902).

Article link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2025.107701

By He Jierui