Evaluation of phosphate sources for control of acid production in coal overburden. Final report, Feb 89-Mar 90
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a serious and pervasive threat to surface and groundwater quality in the eastern Appalachian coal regions and at large surface area coal mines in the western United States. Recent research has indicated that the use of phosphate materials can be an effective treatment for the amelioration of AMD. Phosphate is effective at immobilizing iron and inhibiting the production of acid associated with the oxidation of FeS2. A preliminary simulated weathering study was performed to evaluate the potential of several regional phosphate sources for controlling the production of acid from pyritic coal overburden. Phosphate sources tested included two apatite ores (Cominco ore and Texas Gulf ore) at an application rate of 3% by weight apatite and two byproducts of the phosphate industry (Cominco waste and Stauffer sludge) at rates of 1%, 3% and 5% apatite by weight. Results of leachate analyses indicate that all sources at all rates of application resulted in significant decreases in titratable acidity versus a control. Acidity reductions ranged from a low of 7% for samples treated with Cominco waste (1%) to a high of 67% for Texas Gulf ore-treated samples. Texas Gulf ore, Stauffer sludge (1%, 3% and 5%) and Cominco waste (1%, 3% and 5%) significantly reduced iron (Fe) concentrations in leachate, with Stauffer sludge (5%) and Texas Gulf ore producing the most notable diminutions (62% and 63%, respectively). Decreases in Fe and acidity levels appear to be primarily attributable to the precipitation by PO4 of Fe derived from the dissolution of FeS2 oxidation products and not necessarily a decrease in FeS2 oxidation. The more effective overall performance of the Stauffer sludge and Texas Gulf ore can be attributed to the considerably greater relative surface area and P solubility of these amendments. Results of a scanning electron microscope examination of amendments corroborates these findings.
- Research Organization:
- Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT (United States). Reclamation Research Unit
- OSTI ID:
- 5719327
- Report Number(s):
- PB-91-170159/XAB; RECLAMATION-RES-UNIT-PUB-9001; CNN: JO290002
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Sponsored by Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA. Pittsburgh Research Center
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
At-source Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Coal Mine Drainage
Evaluation of selected phosphate sources for the control of acid production from the pyritic coal overburden
Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
WATER TREATMENT
MINERAL WASTES
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
PHOSPHATES
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COAL MINING
DISSOLUTION
IRON SULFIDES
LEACHATES
MINERAL INDUSTRY
MINERAL RESOURCES
MITIGATION
OVERBURDEN
OXIDATION
PERFORMANCE TESTING
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SLUDGES
SOLUBILITY
SULFATES
SULFIDE MINERALS
SURFACE AREA
SURFACE MINING
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WEATHERING
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CONTROL
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
INDUSTRY
IRON COMPOUNDS
MICROSCOPY
MINERALS
MINING
MIXTURES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION CONTROL
RESOURCES
SOLID WASTES
SOLUTIONS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
WASTES
WATER CHEMISTRY
010800* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Waste Management
320305 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Industrial Waste Management