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Title: Strontium Isotope Study of Coal Untilization By-products Interacting with Environmental Waters

Abstract

Sequential leaching experiments on coal utilization by-products (CUB) were coupled with chemical and strontium (Sr) isotopic analyses to better understand the influence of coal type and combustion processes on CUB properties and the release of elements during interaction with environmental waters during disposal. Class C fly ash tended to release the highest quantity of minor and trace elements—including alkaline earth elements, sodium, chromium, copper, manganese, lead, titanium, and zinc—during sequential extraction, with bottom ash yielding the lowest. Strontium isotope ratios ({sup 87}Sr/{sup 86}Sr) in bulk-CUB samples (total dissolution of CUB) are generally higher in class F ash than in class C ash. Bulk-CUB ratios appear to be controlled by the geologic source of the mineral matter in the feed coal, and by Sr added during desulfurization treatments. Leachates of the CUB generally have Sr isotope ratios that are different than the bulk value, demonstrating that Sr was not isotopically homogenized during combustion. Variations in the Sr isotopic composition of CUB leachates were correlated with mobility of several major and trace elements; the data suggest that arsenic and lead are held in phases that contain the more radiogenic (high-{sup 87}Sr/{sup 86}Sr) component. A changing Sr isotope ratio of CUB-interacting waters inmore » a disposal environment could forecast the release of certain strongly bound elements of environmental concern. This study lays the groundwork for the application of Sr isotopes as an environmental tracer for CUB–water interaction.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
OSTI Identifier:
1052712
Report Number(s):
TPR-3642
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-FE-0004000
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Environmental Quality
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 41, No. 1
Publisher:
Journal of Environmental Quality
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Citation Formats

Spivak-Birndorf, Lev J, Stewart, Brian W, Capo, Rosemary C, Chapman, Elizabeth C, Schroeder, Karl T, and Brubaker, Tonya M. Strontium Isotope Study of Coal Untilization By-products Interacting with Environmental Waters. United States: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.2134/jeq2011.0222.
Spivak-Birndorf, Lev J, Stewart, Brian W, Capo, Rosemary C, Chapman, Elizabeth C, Schroeder, Karl T, & Brubaker, Tonya M. Strontium Isotope Study of Coal Untilization By-products Interacting with Environmental Waters. United States. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2011.0222
Spivak-Birndorf, Lev J, Stewart, Brian W, Capo, Rosemary C, Chapman, Elizabeth C, Schroeder, Karl T, and Brubaker, Tonya M. 2011. "Strontium Isotope Study of Coal Untilization By-products Interacting with Environmental Waters". United States. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2011.0222.
@article{osti_1052712,
title = {Strontium Isotope Study of Coal Untilization By-products Interacting with Environmental Waters},
author = {Spivak-Birndorf, Lev J and Stewart, Brian W and Capo, Rosemary C and Chapman, Elizabeth C and Schroeder, Karl T and Brubaker, Tonya M},
abstractNote = {Sequential leaching experiments on coal utilization by-products (CUB) were coupled with chemical and strontium (Sr) isotopic analyses to better understand the influence of coal type and combustion processes on CUB properties and the release of elements during interaction with environmental waters during disposal. Class C fly ash tended to release the highest quantity of minor and trace elements—including alkaline earth elements, sodium, chromium, copper, manganese, lead, titanium, and zinc—during sequential extraction, with bottom ash yielding the lowest. Strontium isotope ratios ({sup 87}Sr/{sup 86}Sr) in bulk-CUB samples (total dissolution of CUB) are generally higher in class F ash than in class C ash. Bulk-CUB ratios appear to be controlled by the geologic source of the mineral matter in the feed coal, and by Sr added during desulfurization treatments. Leachates of the CUB generally have Sr isotope ratios that are different than the bulk value, demonstrating that Sr was not isotopically homogenized during combustion. Variations in the Sr isotopic composition of CUB leachates were correlated with mobility of several major and trace elements; the data suggest that arsenic and lead are held in phases that contain the more radiogenic (high-{sup 87}Sr/{sup 86}Sr) component. A changing Sr isotope ratio of CUB-interacting waters in a disposal environment could forecast the release of certain strongly bound elements of environmental concern. This study lays the groundwork for the application of Sr isotopes as an environmental tracer for CUB–water interaction.},
doi = {10.2134/jeq2011.0222},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1052712}, journal = {Journal of Environmental Quality},
number = ,
volume = 41, No. 1,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011},
month = {Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011}
}