Limestone treatment of acidified streams

Conference · · Virginia Journal of Science; (United States)

OSTI ID:5823370

Wagman, J D; Downey, D ^[1]

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1. James Madison Univ., Harrisonburg, VA (United States)

The goal of this study is to evaluate the mitigation of the acidification of streamwater through single-point application of limestone. Acid rain is primarily formed when nitrogen oxides (NO{sub X}) and sulfur oxides (SO{sub X}) emitted from the burning of fossil fuels react in the atmosphere to form nitric and sulfuric acids, respectively. These acids return to earth where they enter streams through rain runoff and underground water displacement. The sulfate ion reduces the stream's buffering capacity by replacing the natural carbonate and bicarbonate. Limestone is calcium carbonate (CaCO{sub 3}) which dissolves sufficiently in streams to provide supplemental carbonate ions to boost buffering capacity. The effectiveness of the treatment has been found to be dependent on several parameters including the mass, particle size, and purity of the limestone, the stream gradient, flowrate and existing water quality and the total acid loading in the watershed.

• OSTI ID: 5823370
• Report Number(s): CONF-9105268--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Virginia Journal of Science; (United States) Journal Volume: 42:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LIMING
MITIGATION
NITRIC ACID
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RAIN
STREAMS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
SULFURIC ACID
SURFACE WATERS
WATER CHEMISTRY