Long-Term Behavior of Fixated Flue Gas Desulfurization Material Grout in Mine Drainage Environments
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 130, Issue 7
Abstract
In this research, we examine the long-term years) behavior of fixated flue gas desulfurization (FGD) material grout following placement within the Roberts–Dawson underground coal mine. Surface water and groundwater samples were collected to examine the impact of grouting on water quality, and core samples were obtained to assess the geochemical stability of the grout material. Surface water samples collected from the main seep at the Roberts–Dawson mine indicated that 4 years after grout placement the long-term fluxes of acidity, iron, sulfur, and calcium were slightly elevated compared to pregrout conditions. The long-term discharge of these constituents was likely due to continued dissolution of grout material (for Ca and S) as well as changes in flow paths and subsequent solubilization of metal salts accumulated within the mine voids (for acidity, Fe, Al, and S). Although the fluxes of these elements were elevated, no measurable deleterious impact was observed for the underlying groundwater or adjacent surface water reservoir. Groundwater samples collected from monitoring wells installed within the grout material indicated that acid mine drainage waters were neutralized by the grout material. Mineralogical analyses demonstrated minimal penetration of mine drainage water into the high strength fixated FGD material grout, and little weathering of the material was observed. These data indicate that the high strength fixated FGD material grout injected into the Roberts–Dawson mine was geochemically stable and could locally neutralize mine drainage waters. However, more complete grouting and more extensive mine flooding is likely needed in order to bring about significant improvements in seep water quality.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
American Coal Ash Association Inc. (ACAA). (2001). “2001 coal combustion product production and use (short tons).” Aurora, Colo.
American Coal Ash Association Inc. (ACAA). (2003). “Glossary of terms concerning the management and use of coal combustion products (CCPs).” Aurora, Colo.
Bair, E. S., and Hammer, M. J. (1999). “Injection of FGD grout to mitigate acid mine drainage at the Roberts–Dawson underground coal mine, Coshocton and Muskingum Counties, Ohio, Volume 2: Site geology and hydrogeology.” Final Technical Rep., Submitted to Ohio Coal Development Office, The Ohio State Univ., State of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio.
Bigham, J. M, Schwertmann, U., Traina, S. J., Winland, R. L., and Wolf, M., (1996). “Schwertmanite and the chemical modeling of iron in acid sulfate waters.” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 60, 2111–2121.
Butalia, T. S., and Wolfe, W. E. (1997). “Re-use of clean coal technology by-products in the construction of impervious liners.” Proc., 1997 Ash Utilization Symposium, Lexington, Ky.
Damian, M. T., and Mafi, S. (1999). “Injection of FGD grout to mitigate acid mine drainage at the Roberts–Dawson underground coal mine, Coshocton and Muskingum Counties, Ohio. Volume 5: Grouting operations.” Final Technical Rep. Submitted to Ohio Coal Development Office, The Ohio State Univ., State of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio.
Drake, R., (1997). “Wallboard plants to use 100% synthetic gypsum.” Rock Products, 100(8), 7.
Kalyoncu, R. S. (1999). “Coal combustion products.” U.S. Geological Survey Minerals yearbook—1999, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Va.
Lamminen, M., Wood, J., Walker, H., Chin, Y.-P., He, Y., and Traina, S. J., (2001). “Effect of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) by-product at an underground coal mine.” J. Environ. Qual., 30(4), 1371–1381.
Laperche, V., and Traina, S. J., (1999a). “Flue gas desulfurization by-product weathering by acid mine drainage.” J. Environ. Qual., 28(6), 1733–1741.
Laperche, V., and Traina, S. J. (1999b). “Injection of FGD grout to mitigate acid mine drainage at the Roberts–Dawson underground coal mine, Coshocton and Muskingum Counties, Ohio. Volume 7: Grout weathering and chemical characterization.” Final Technical Rep. Submitted to Ohio Coal Development Office, The Ohio State Univ., State of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio.
Myneni, S. C. B., Traina, S. J., and Logan, T. J., (1998). “Ettringite solubility and geochemistry of the system at l atm pressure and 298 K.” Chem. Geol., 148, 1–19.
Stehouwer, R. C., Sutton, P., and Dick, W. A., (1995b). “Minespoil amendment with dry flue gas desulfurization by-products: Plant growth.” J. Environ. Qual., 24, 861–869.
Stehouwer, R. C., Sutton, P., Fowler, R. K., and Dick, W. A., (1995a). “Minespoil amendment with dry flue gas desulfurization by-products: Element solubility and mobility.” J. Environ. Qual., 24, 165–174.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). (1999). “Report to Congress: Wastes from the combustion of fossil fuel. Volume 2. Methods, findings and recommendations.” Rep. No. EPA 530-R-99-010, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati.
Ver Steeg, K., (1942). “Jointing in the coal beds of Ohio.” Econ. Geol., 37, 503–509.
Walker, H. W., Taerakul, P., Butalia, T. S., Wolfe, W. E., and W. A. Dick (2002a). “Minimization and use of coal combustion by-products: Concepts and applications.” Handbook of pollution control and waste minimization, A. Ghassemi, ed., Marcel–Dekker Inc., New York.
Walker, H. W., Wood, J. T., Lamminen, M., Chin, Y.-P., and E. E. Whitlatch (1999). “Injection of FGD grout to mitigate acid mine drainage at the Roberts–Dawson underground coal mine, Coshocton and Muskingum Counties, Ohio: Volume 5: Groundwater and surface water quality.” Final Technical Rep. Submitted to Ohio Coal Development Office, The Ohio State Univ., State of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio.
Walker, H. W., Taerakul, P., Lamminen, M., Y. He, Traina, S., and E. E. Whitlatch (2002b). “Injection of FGD grout to mitigate acid mine drainage at the Roberts–Dawson underground coal mine, Coshocton and Muskingum Counties, Ohio: Volume 9: Groundwater and surface water quality, years 1–5, and mineralogical analysis of grout core samples.” Final Technical Rep. Submitted to Ohio Coal Development Office, The Ohio State Univ., State of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio.
Wolfe, W. E., and Butalia, T. S. (1998). “Use of FGD as an impervious liner.” Proc., 23rd Int. Technical Conf. on Coal Utilization and Fuel Systems, Clearwater, Fla.
Wolfe, W., and Butalia, T. (1999). “Injection of FGD grout to mitigate acid mine drainage at the Roberts–Dawson underground coal mine, Coshocton and Muskingum Counties, Ohio: Volume 4: Grout mix design and physical characterization: OSU component.” Final Technical Rep. Submitted to Ohio Coal Development Office, The Ohio State Univ., State of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio.
Wolfe, W. E., and Cline, J. H. (1995). “A field demonstration of the use of wet and dry scrubber sludges in engineered structures.” Proc., 11th Int. Symp. on Use and Management of Coal Combustion By-Products (CCBs), American Coal Ash Association and Electric Power Research Institute, Orlando, Fla.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 130 • Issue 7 • July 2004
Pages: 816 - 823
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 25, 2002
Accepted: Jun 23, 2003
Published online: Jun 15, 2004
Published in print: Jul 2004
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.