Name of the project

AP23490211 «Development of a microbe-aided coal dust suppression approach employing native strains of bacteria to reduce coal dust emission»

Relevance

A vast amount of dispersed coal dust is produced during coal mining, processing, and transportation, leading to coal dust pollution, spontaneous combustion, and coal dust explosion. Therefore, the development of “green dust” inhibition technology is extraordinarily beneficial. Biological mineralization technology offers an environmentally sustainable and secure approach to coal production. Given the effectiveness of microorganisms in the engineering industries, the current research attempts to stabilize and mitigate the dispersed coal dust in Kazakhstani conditions utilizing native (indigenous) strains of bacteria. The screening, mineralization, and dust suppression potentials of these strains will provide theoretical and practical support for applying this approach in coal dust suppression.

Purpose

To develop and implement a microbial-induced carbonate precipitation strategy to control and mitigate coal dust from the lab-to-scale-up conditions.

Objectives

• To collect and characterize (chemical and physical) coal dust samples, focusing on their environmental and hazardous properties. A comprehensive understanding of the intrinsic properties and chemical makeup of coal dust is critical for developing an effective and practical method for dust suppression.
• To isolate, identify, and characterize urease-producing microorganisms with enhanced environmental properties from coal environments. Native (indigenous) microorganisms in coal are better adapted to harsh coal environments and have greater functional potential. 
• To screen urease-producing microbial strains in coal, which will provide advancement for biological treatment development of coal dust suppression. The screening can provide possible benefits in terms of survival and mineralization for urease bacteria involved in the dust suppression process.
• To determine the urease activity of microbial strains. Bacterial urease activity profoundly influences the decomposition of urea and the subsequent formation of calcium carbonate precipitate.
• To study the impacts of environmental factors on the urease activity of microbial strains. The activity of urease secretion by urease bacteria is highly influenced by changes in environmental factors such as urea, calcium chloride, pH value, and various sizes of coal dust. 
• To evaluate the adsorption capacity of microbial strains on coal to understand the dust suppression mechanism better. Adsorption of urease-producing bacteria on coal dust is an essential element in the operation of microbial dust suppressants, influencing urease release and improving dust consolidation effectiveness.
• To conduct and characterize the mineralization process of the bacteria strains. This feature is critical for investigating the coal dust consolidation performance and dust-fixing capability, which gives empirical evidence for future biomineralization technology applications.
• To prepare/apply composite surfactants (surface active agents) in combination with microbial mineralization to improve the system performance. Surfactants combined with microbial-induced carbonate precipitation technology may improve the coal dust suppression efficacy of microbial dust suppressants. 
• To conduct dust suppression performance studies. The coal dust consolidation effects will be evaluated by wind-erosion, rain resistance test, corrosivity, and toxicology tests.
• To extend the microbial mineralization process in scale-up conditions considering environmental suitability and economic implications. This approach will be realized in an open-pit coal mine in Kazakhstan to control and mitigate coal dust.

Expected and achieved results

The research project will result in the development of an environmentally safe and economically sustainable coal dust suppressor approach by employing native strains of microorganisms in order to prevent dust dispersion and consequent pollution.

We aim to accomplish the designated objectives in accordance with the Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) as follows: from the selection of technological concepts (TRL 2. Applied research) to the development work (TRL 4. Experimental development). More specifically, from the investigation of technological strategies for mitigating coal dust using microbes and the identification of their benefits over alternative methods to the integration of design and technological elements in microbially induced carbonate precipitation and the determination of its operational attributes. Consequently, laboratory and technological regulations, documentation of the coal dust suppression process, and techniques/methods to prevent dust dispersion and subsequent contamination constitute the primary scientific and technical outcomes of this effort.

Research team members with their identifiers (Scopus Author ID, Researcher ID, ORCID, if available) and links to relevant profiles

1. Tastambek Kuanysh Talgatuly, PhD: h-index – 7. Scopus: 57200176041, Web of Science: AAO-3781–2020; ORCID: 0000-0002-2338-8816.
2. Akimbekov Nuraly Shardarbekovich, PhD, professor: h-index – 12. Scopus: 45160897400, Web of Science: A-5130–2014; ORCID: 0000-0002-5262-5155.
3. Kozhakhmetova Marzhan Khalidollaevna, Master of Technical Sciences, doctoral student: h-index – 1, Scopus: 57451762600, Web of Science: AAS-4987–2020; ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5879-3475
4. Kamenov Bekzat Kelbetuly - Bachelor of Engineering and Technology, 2nd-year master student of Al-Farabi KazNU, specialty "Biotechnology", junior researcher. Web of Science: HDN-8563-2022, ORCID: 0000-0002-1484-9000.
5. Nusipov Damir Asanovich - Bachelor of Engineering and Technology, 2nd-year master student of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, specialty "Biotechnology", junior researcher. ORCID:0000-0003-3581-0671, Web of Science: HDN-7999-2022.