Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD) that releases highly acidic, sulfate and metals-rich drainage is a serious environmental problem in coal mining areas in China. In order to study the effect of using loess for preventing AMD and controlling heavy metals contamination from coal waste, the column leaching tests were conducted. The results come from experiment data analyses show that the loess can effectively immobilize cadmium, copper, iron, lead and zinc in AMD from coal waste, increase pH value, and decrease Eh, EC, and SO 2−4 concentrations of AMD from coal waste. The oxidation of sulfide in coal waste is prevented by addition of the loess, which favors the generation and adsorption of the alkalinity, the decrease of the population of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, the heavy metals immobilization by precipitation of sulfide and carbonate through biological sulfate reduction inside the column, and the halt of the oxidation process of sulfide through iron coating on the surface of sulfide in coal waste. The loess can effectively prevent AMD and heavy metals contamination from coal waste in in-situ treatment systems.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bi Y L, Su G H, Guo J T, Liu Y P, 2007. Alkali-fly ash preventing technic on sulfur pollution of coal waste. Journal of China Coal Society, 32(6): 622–625.
Chen H, Ning S G, 2001. Sulfur form and transformation route under spontaneous combustion in coal waste pile. Journal of Shandong Science & Technology, (3): 18–19.
Cui L P, Bai J F, Shi Y H, 2004. Study on soil heavy metals pollution from mining activity. Acta Pedologica Sinica, 41(6): 898–904.
Hu Z Q, Ma B G, Zhang M L, Wang P, 2009a. Bioremediation of sulfuric contamination from coal waste by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Journal of China Coal Society, 34(3): 400–404.
Hu Z Q, Yang X H, Bao Y, 2005. Discussion on the eco-environment remediation of mining area. Science & Technology Review, 23(2): 38–41.
Hu Z Q, Zhang M L, Ma B G, Wang P, Kang J T, 2009b. Fly ash for control pollution of acid and heavy metals from coal refuse. Journal of China Coal Society, 34(1): 79–83.
Jia X R, 2001. Environmental problems and countermeasure on sustainable development in coal mining area. Coal Geology Exploration, 29(1): 39–41.
Kleinmann R L P, Crerar D A, Pacell R R, 1981. Biochemistry of acid mine drainage and a method to control acid formation. Minerals Engineering, 33: 300–306.
Mylona E, Xenidis A, Paspaliaris I, 2000. Inhibition of acid generation from sulphidic wastes by the addition of small amounts of limestone. Miner. Eng., 13: 1161–1175.
Tremblay R L, 1994. Controlling acid mine drainage using an organic cover: the case of the East Sullivan Mine, Abitibi, Quebec. //Proc. of international land reclamation and mine drainage conference and in the third international conference on the abatement of acidic drainage. Pittsburgh, 122–127.
Wang X Y, Yang J, Guo H X, 2006. Study on heavy metals in soil contaminated by coal waste rock pile. Journal of China Coal Society, 31(6): 808–812.
Wildeman T, Brodie G, Gusek J, 1993. Wetland design for mining operations. Richmond, BiTech Publishers Ltd.
Xu J Z, Zhou Y L, Chang Q, 2006. Study on the factors of affecting the immobilization of heavy metals in fly ash based geopolymers. Material Letters, 60(6): 820–822.
Zhang L, Han G C, Chen H, Ma M G, Guo H D, 2008. Study on heavy metal contaminants in soil from coal mining spoil in the Loess plateau. Journal of China Coal Society, 33(10): 1141–1146.
Zhang M L, 2011. Utilization of fly ash for remediation of heavy metals from acid coal waste leachate. Journal of China Coal Society, 36(4): 654–658.
Zhang Z H, Yin X Z, Yang J Y, Zhang Z Y, 2007. The first-step study on disposing vitriolic root through natural SRB in loess. Journal of Taiyuan University of Technology, 38(2): 112–115.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30671448); the Science and Technology Pillar Program of Hebei Province (12220802D)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ma, Bg., Wang, Hy., Gao, R. et al. Effect of loess for preventing contamination of acid mine drainage from coal waste. J Coal Sci Eng China 18, 302–306 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12404-012-0314-6
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12404-012-0314-6