Assessment of trace element contamination of the drainages from coal cleaning wastes

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5783104

Wagner, P; Williams, J M; Wewerka, E M; Bertino, J P; Wangen, L W; Wanek, P L; Thode, E F

The mineral wastes produced by coal cleaning contain in abundance of toxic or potentially harmful trace elements. Although it has been well established that many of these toxic elements are present in the drainages from coal waste dumps, little is known about the quantities released into the environment from this source. The objectives of this research program are to assess the nature and magnitude of the trace elements in the effluents from coal refuse materials, and to develop appropriate environmental control technologies as needed. In this paper we present recent experimental results from this program concerning the chemistry and aqueous leaching behavior of the trace elements in high sulfur coal cleaning wastes. The emphasis is on the interpretation of the experimental data that has led to the identification of trace elements in coal refuse effluents consistently present in unacceptable quantities, and the development of environmental control strategies designed to abate or mitigate the problems of environmental concern that have resulted from these refuse drainages. Experiments have been performed to simulate the intermittent rainfall and weathering to which refuse dumps are subjected. These researchers have revealed that this alternate oxidation and leaching of the pyrite in the refuse is a most effective way to generate acid leachates and indeed these intermittently leached coal waste piles pose a far greater pollution threat, in terms of both quantity and time, than those wastes that are always in contact with water or otherwise isolated from air.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5783104
• Report Number(s): LA-8173-MS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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