Professor Cheng Fangqin's team from Shanxi University recently secured the prestigious "Jury's Special Commendation Gold Medal" for their innovative research on the large-scale ecological utilization of coal gangue at the 50th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions (Inventions Geneva).

The team's project addresses the significant ecological risks and safety hazards associated with large quantities of coal gangue, such as spontaneous combustion and pollutant leaching during storage. They developed an integrated technology for the harmless disposal of coal gangue, which resolves the issue of large-scale ecological disposal and provides essential filling materials for the ecological restoration of abandoned lands.

This award-winning project is a testament to the team's years of in-depth research on controlling risks and promoting the resource utilization of coal gangue, from theory to practice. The team has applied for over 10 domestic and international patents for their inventions, highlighting their work's impact on the comprehensive utilization of solid waste in the coal-based industry.

Founded in the 1970s, Inventions Geneva is one of the world's longest-running and largest invention exhibitions. This year's event featured approximately 1,000 products and technologies from 45 countries and regions. Among the 300 exhibits in the energy and environmental protection category, four projects received the "Jury's Special Commendation Gold Medal". The Chinese delegation showcased over 200 projects, with 77 winning gold medals, 96 silver, and 55 bronze.