Behavior of Dissolved Al, Cu, Be, and Cr during Simulated Dilution of Iron-Rich Coal Leachates with Alkaline Surface Waters

摘要

Coal leachates are highly enriched in toxic metals, there is a need to know how the metals behave during dispersion of leachates into natural fresh or estuarine surface waters. In the present work, the authors address the need with two types of experiments. In one type, a synthetic leachate is mixed with NaHCO3 solutions in various proportions. In a modification of this type of experiment, naturally occurring organic extracts are added. In the second type of experiment, the same synthetic leachate is mixed with a natural river water sample and a natural estuarine water sample. The principal goal of these experiments is to determine how efficient ferric hydroxide precipitation is in removing the trace metals during dilution of the leachate. Although the study was designed to investigate the possibility of pollution problems associated with coal storage at power plants, the results should also be applicable to problems associated with acid mine drainage. At the present time, Maryland power plants collect and treat their coal pile runoff.