Acid Mine Drainage Remediation Using Fly Ash Based Grouts

摘要

In Pennsylvania, approximately 2,500 miles of streams have been degraded by acid mine drainage (AMD). Abandoned coal mines are located in 45 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. Pennsylvania is producing an estimated 10 million tons of coal ash annually. Some projections estimate that the amount of solid residues produced as the result of coal burning may double. This laboratory study examined the potential for using a low calcium content, coal fly ash in the remediation of acid mine drainage. The study compared the performance of unconsolidated fly ash with cementitious grouts based largely on fly ash. Specifically the study involved 1) The physical and chemical characterization of the ash; 2) The characterization of the physical and chemical properties of grouts based on mixtures of coal ash and Ca(OH)_2; and 3) The characterization of the interactions between coal ash or the cementitious grouts and AMD under both static and flowing conditions.