Ordos enterprises transform coal byproducts into high-value materials

A quiet but significant industrial shift is underway in Ordos city, where local enterprises are converting coal-based solid waste into high-value advanced materials, creating a new driver of green and sustainable growth.

Coal gangue and fly ash – once seen as environmentally burdensome byproducts occupying vast tracts of land – are now being repurposed as primary inputs for mullite, a high-performance inorganic material widely used in ceramics, refractory products, and electronic components.

At the Juungar Banner branch of Inner Mongolia Yidong Dongyan Technology Co, the first batch of mullite products for 2026 has recently been dispatched, totaling 70 metric tons and destined for eastern China markets.

The shipment marks a strong start to the year and underscores rising market demand for products derived from industrial waste. More than 90 percent of the company's raw materials are sourced from coal gangue.

Driven by continuous technological innovation, the company has established a production line with an annual capacity of 10,000 tons, consuming approximately 13,000 tons of coal gangue each year.

The process also utilizes chemical exhaust gas, improving overall resource efficiency while contributing to emissions reduction.

A similar approach is being adopted by Inner Mongolia Yuhua New Materials Technology Co, where coal gangue is processed at high temperatures into upgraded mullite products, including the M45 grade.

With over 90 percent of raw inputs derived from coal waste, the company consumes around 20,000 tons annually. The economic added value is substantial, with raw materials priced at roughly 200 yuan ($28.99) per ton converted into finished products exceeding 2,000 yuan per ton.

The upgraded M45 mullite offers enhanced thermal stability and durability, strengthening its competitiveness in domestic markets.

The company reported revenues of 25 million yuan last year and expects further growth as it advances the development of next-generation materials featuring lower density and higher strength.

These developments reflect a broader industrial transformation in the Juungar Economic Development Zone, where an integrated value chain – from solid waste utilization to advanced materials manufacturing – is rapidly taking shape.

As China's first demonstration base for the comprehensive utilization of coal-based solid waste, the zone has attracted 24 new materials projects and developed a range of high-value products now sold nationwide.

Supported by closer collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutions, the region is accelerating innovation in advanced ceramics and related materials, reinforcing its position in the high-end manufacturing sector while promoting more sustainable resource use.