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[References: 42 tit.]

Coal processing waste is generated annually in large volumes by the coal exporting countries. More than 70% of run-of-mine coal is enriched. At the same time, typical coal processing waste (slime, flotation waste, mid-coal and tailings) make up at least 10–15% of the raw coal mass. Approximately 220–300 million tons of coal processing waste is generated annually at coal-preparation plants in Russia and China. The results of experimental researches in recent years illustrate the growing interest in such wastes as promising energy components. In this paper, we performed a comparative analysis of the main physical properties, ignition and combustion characteristics of several types of coal processing waste. The comparison is made for typical flotation waste (filter cakes or coal slime) generated in Russia and China. It is shown that for wastes from different countries the ignition delay times differ by no more than 50% and the heat of combustion by 9–15%. Concentrations of main anthropogenic emissions were determined. Generalization is made using criterion expressions to illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of coal processing waste incineration in comparison with pulverized coal combustion.