Subsurface oxidation of pyritic coal-cleaning wastes by chemoautotrophic bacteria

Conference · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5292085

Schubert, J P; Miller, R M

The presence of the iron-oxidizing bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was investigated in groundwater and surface water at two coal refuse disposal sites in southwestern Illinois. Piezometers placed in the saturated bases of reclaimed and unreclaimed refuse piles showed high populations of the bacteria. The reclaimed pile had lower populations than did the unreclaimed coal refuse, suggesting that the reclamation effort may have caused a decline in subsurface Thiobacillus population levels. Acidic runoff water from the two piles also contained T. ferrooxidans, but the levels encountered are not as high as those found in the saturated bases. Population levels of T. ferrooxidans were not high in till below the gob pile or in slurry material at the Staunton site. This may be attributed to the lower acidity and dissolved iron concentrations in groundwater at these locations, as well as to the lack of pyrite in the till and slurry material. Statistical analysis of T. ferrooxidans populations and six water quality variables for runoff and groundwater samples from the two sites showed that all seven variables were significantly intercorrelated. More samples and additional variables must be evaluated before cause/effect relationships can be determined. High populations of T. ferrooxidans were found in the saturated bases of the two refuse piles, despite low levels (<0.5 mg/L) of dissolved oxygen. If these bacteria can catalyze pyrite oxidation under the conditions present, reduction of acid formation by refuse burial may not be successful.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5292085
• Report Number(s): CONF-821175-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
BACILLUS
BACTERIA
CATALYSTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL MINING
COAL PREPARATION PLANTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
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FEDERAL REGION V
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
ILLINOIS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
LAND RECLAMATION
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MASS TRANSFER
MICROORGANISMS
MINERAL WASTES
MINERALS
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OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PYRITE
RUNOFF
SOLID WASTES
SPOIL BANKS
STORAGE FACILITIES
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SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR-OXIDIZING BACTERIA
SURFACE WATERS
THIOBACILLUS FERROXIDANS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY