The paper presents the results of petrographic analysis of five samples of brown coals from the following deposits: Itatskoye, Munayskoye, Arkharo-Boguchanskoye, Kangalasskoye, Baganuur (Mongolia). It was found that the brown coal sample from the Itatskoye deposit (Ro, r = 0.388%) has the lowest vitrinite reflectance, while the brown coal from the Kangalasskoye deposit has the highest reflectance value (Ro, r = 0.490%). An increase in the genetic maturity of the studied samples is associated with a change in the technological properties of their organic matter. It is shown that with an increase in Ro, r, the carbon content (Cdaf) increases, the yield of volatiles decreases, as well as the atomic ratio of H/C and O/C. Visual analysis of polished sections made it possible to determine the maceral composition of the studied coals. The sample of brown coal from the Baganuur deposit (Mongolia) has the highest inertinite content (more than 60%), the sample of the Kangalasskoye deposit contains the largest amount of vitrinite group macerals (86%).

The prospects of using a natural material – ferromanganese nodules (FMN) from<br />the Gulf of Finland – as the SO2 adsorbent are discussed. The starting material was<br />studied as pellets and powder using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, XRD, BET,<br />and mechanical strength analysis; dependences of physicochemical parameters of<br />the material on heat treatment at 100-1000 ºC were found. FMN samples were tested in the process of SO2 sorption. The sorptive capacity of FMN samples for SO2 was found to increase with humidity of adsorbents; FMN samples with a humidity above 40% were shown to be promising for the removal of sulfur dioxide from gases.

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Coal industry methane is a fossil raw material that can serve as an energy carrier for the production of heat and electricity, as well as a raw material for obtaining valuable products for the chemical industry. To ensure the safety of coal mining, rational environmental management and curbing global warming, it is important to develop and improve methods for capturing and utilizing methane from the coal industry. This review looks at the scientific basis and promising technologies for hydrogen production from coal industry methane and coal production. Technologies for catalytic conversion of all types of coal industry methane (Ventilation Air Methane – VAM, Coal Mine Methane – CMM, Abandoned Mine Methane – AMM, Coal-Bed Methane – CBM), differing in methane concentration and methane-to-air ratio, are discussed. The results of studies on the creation of a number of efficient catalysts for hydrogen production are presented. The great potential of hybrid methods of processing natural coal and coal industry methane has been demonstrated.