iSET Journal , 2026 (vol. 66), issue 1

Surface stabilisation for the prevention of spontaneous combustion in coal spoil heaps: laboratory and semi-industrial evaluation

Vlastimil Moni,, Jaromír Täuber

iSET Journal 2026, 66(1) | DOI: 10.66829/iset.2026.002

Spontaneous combustion of coal spoil heaps and post-mining waste dumps represents a persistent environmental and safety challenge in many European coal regions. One of the key mechanisms driving self-heating processes is the unrestricted access of oxygen to coal-bearing materials deposited at the surface of spoil heaps. Surface stabilisation treatments therefore represent a promising preventive approach to limit oxidation processes and reduce the risk of smouldering and endogenous fires. This study presents the results of laboratory and semi-industrial investigations aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of selected surface stabilisation treatments...