Trace element characterization of coal wastes. Third annual progress report, October 1, 1977-September 30, 1978

Technical Report · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5821737· OSTI ID:5821737

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

In 1978, we performed laboratory experiments to investigate the efficacy of several control options for treating coal wastes at the preparation plant or during disposal. Our research revealed that calcining is one of the more effective and permanent means of treating high-sulfur coal wastes before disposal to decrease, quite dramatically, the release of environmentally undesirable pollutants into the drainages from disposal sites. Another promising control method is codisposal of the coal wastes with lime or limestone to neutralize the acid drainage and retain soluble aqueous contaminants within the waste site. Other experiments have examined the feasibility of using natural sealants, such as clays, soils, calcite, and cements, to isolate the disposal site from its immediate environment. The various tradeoffs for these control options are discussed in terms of contaminant reduction, complexity, permanency, and cost. We have begun an assessment of coal preparation wastes from the Appalachian region. Based on the work we have done on refuse from a single plant, it is clear that coal wastes containing a low percentage of pyrite plant, it is clear that coal wastes containing a low percentage of pyrite (< 1 %) generate worrisome amounts of acid drainage. Our experimental results show that the trace elements of environmental concern in the leachates from these low-sulfur wastes are aluminum, manganese, iron, nickel, and copper when their concentrations are in excess of the Environmental Protection Agency's recommended Minimum Acute Toxicity Effluent (MATE) values.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5821737
• Report Number(s): LA-7831-PR; EPA-600/7-79-144
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010600 -- Coal
Lignite
&amp; Peat-- Properties &amp; Composition
010800* -- Coal
Lignite
&amp; Peat-- Waste Management
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM
APPALACHIA
CALCINATION
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM HYDROXIDES
CARBONATE ROCKS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL PREPARATION PLANTS
COPPER
DATA
DATA FORMS
DECOMPOSITION
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GRAPHS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INFORMATION
IRON
LEACHING
LIMESTONE
MANAGEMENT
MANGANESE
METALS
MINERAL WASTES
NICKEL
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
PYROLYSIS
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCKS
SEALS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLID WASTES
TABLES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT