An evaluation of trace element release associated with acid mine drainage

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02574730· OSTI ID:5969131

Sullivan, P J; Yelton, J L ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Wyoming Research Corp., Laramie (United States)

The determination of trace element release from geologic materials, such as oil shale and coal overburden, is important for proper solid waste management planning. The objective of this study was to determine a correlation between release using the following methods: (1) sequential selective dissolution for determining trace element residencies, (2) toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), and (3) humidity cell weathering study simulating maximum trace element release. Two eastern oil shales were used, a New Albany shale that contains 4.6 percent pyrite, and a Chattanooga shale that contains 1.5 percent pyrite. Each shale was analyzed for elemental concentrations by soluble, adsorbed, organic, carbonate, and sulfide phases. The results of the results of the selective dissolution studies show that each trace element has a unique distribution between the various phases. Thus, it is possible to predict trace element release based on trace element residency. The TCLP results show that this method is suitable for assessing soluble trace element release but does not realistically assess potential hazards. The results of the humidity cell studies do demonstrate a more reasonable method for predicting trace element release and potential water quality hazards. The humidity cell methods, however, require months to obtain the required data with a large number of analytical measurements. When the selective dissolution data are compared to the trace element concentrations in the TCLP and humidity cell leachates, it is shown that leachate concentrations are predicted by the selective dissolution data. Therefore, selective dissolution may represent a rapid method to assess trace element release associated with acid mine drainage.

• OSTI ID: 5969131
• Journal Information: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (United States), Vol. 12:3; ISSN 0177-5146
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
COAL MINING
WATER POLLUTION
OIL SHALE MINING
OIL SHALES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
GEOCHEMISTRY
CHATTANOOGA FORMATION
DISSOLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
OXIDATION
PH VALUE
PYRITE
TRACE AMOUNTS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
KINETICS
MATERIALS
MINERALS
MINING
POLLUTION
REACTION KINETICS
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
SULFIDE MINERALS
010900* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects
041000 - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Environmental Aspects
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
580000 - Geosciences