Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Chemical and microbiological factors influencing the leaching of trace metals and trace organics from coal. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5343860

This study examined the inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and microbiology of the leaching of coal in storage. Laboratory leaching experiments were conducted to assess the variability among leachates from different coal samples, the influence of environmental variables upon the inorganic and organic content of leachates, and the effects of chemical and microbiological activities on the release of metals and organics from stored coal. Appropriate inorganic, organic, and microbiological analyses of leachates from coal storage at a power-generating facility were conducted to validate the laboratory results. The results suggest that the major environmental impacts of materials leaching from coal will result from the high acidity of the leachates and the presence of toxic trace metals such as Al, Be, and Cu. Leachate organic components such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons pose less of a threat.

Research Organization:
Maryland Univ., Solomons, MD (USA). Chesapeake Biological Lab.
OSTI ID:
5343860
Report Number(s):
PB-90-110230/XAB; UMCEES--87-34A-CBL
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English