Trace-element characterization of coal-preparation wastes. Final program report

Technical Report · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6042900

Heaton, R C; Wagner, P ^[1]

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1. eds.

The Los Alamos National Laboratory has conducted research to assess the natures and amounts of trace elements in the drainages from coals and coal preparation wastes, to identify trace elements of environmental concern in these effluents, and to perform the necessary control technology research for this form of environmental pollution. This report summarizes the work done under this program and completes the documentation of the project. A complete bibliography is included. Most work addressed high-sulfur coal wastes obtained from coal preparation plants in the Illinois Basin and northern Appalachia. Leachates from these wastes are often very acidic, with pH values sometimes less than 2, and contain high concentrations of a number of chemical elements. Aluminum, manganese, iron, nickel, and sometimes cobalt, copper, zinc, arsenic, and cadmium are released in environmentally harmful concentrations according to the EPA's Multimedia Environmental Goals/Minimum Acute Toxicity Effluent (MEG/MATE) system of evaluation. Iron is the worst case, with concentrations typically more than 30 times the acceptable level. Studies of the chemical composition and morphology of these coal wastes reveal that many of the environmentally important elements leached from the solid wastes in high percentages (Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Se) tend to reside among either mixed-layer clays or pyritic mineral phases. In terms of effectiveness and economics, the most promising control technology for dealing with high-sulfur coal wastes consists of sequential slurry-coating of the waste with lime and limestone.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6042900
• Report Number(s): LA-9626; ON: DE83014071
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010600 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
010800* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM
ARSENIC
CADMIUM
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM OXIDES
CARBONATE ROCKS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COAL PREPARATION PLANTS
COBALT
CONTROL
COPPER
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
IRON
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
LEACHATES
LIMESTONE
MANAGEMENT
MANGANESE
METALS
MINERAL WASTES
MINERALS
MIXTURES
NICKEL
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
POLLUTION CONTROL
PROCESSING
PYRITE
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SOLID WASTES
SOLUTIONS
SULFIDE MINERALS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TAILINGS
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
ZINC