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The Use of Static and Humidity Cell Tests to Assess the Effectiveness of Coal Waste Desulfurization on Acid Rock Drainage Risk

静态和动态湿度盒试验评价煤矿矸石去硫方法的酸性废水控制效果

Nutzung statischer und Humidity-Cell-Tests für die Bewertung der Effektivität der Entschwefelung von Kohleabfällen hinsichtlich der Bildung saurer Wässer

Uso de ensayos estáticos y con celdas húmedas para determinar la efectividad de la desulfuración de residuos de carbón sobre el riesgo de drenaje ácido de roca

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Abstract

The environmental benefits of waste desulfurization were evaluated in the Santa Catarina coal field, Brazil. Coal waste from a beneficiation plant was separated into three density fractions, using a two stage process. Characterization of these fractions indicated that the low (D < 2.2 g/cm3) and high (D > 2.7 g/cm3) density fractions were potentially suitable for energy and sulfuric acid production, respectively. The waste fraction of intermediate density (2.2 < D < 2.7 g/cm3) represented 69% of the total mass studied and had a relatively low sulfide content, and it was postulated that it may be suitable for land disposal with minimum risk to the surrounding environment. This hypothesis was tested using laboratory-scale static and kinetic tests, which indicated that although the fraction remained net acid generating, the rate and net amount of metals, salts, and acidity that leached was considerably less than that of the discards before separation. It was concluded that this approach could reduce the amount of waste generated, as well as the associated pollution risk.

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Zusammenfassung

Die Vorteile einer Abfallentschwefelung wurden für das Santa Caterina Kohlevorkommen in Brasilien bewertet. Kohleabfälle einer Aufbereitungsanlage wurden mittels eines zweistufigen Prozesses in drei Dichtefraktionen getrennt. Die Charakterisierung dieser Dichtefraktionen zeigte, das die Fraktionen niedriger (D<2.2 g/cm3) und hoher (D>2.7 g/cm3) Dichte potentiell für die Energie- bzw. Schwefelsäuregewinnung geeignet sind. Die Abfallfraktion mittlerer Dichte (2.2<D<2.7 g/cm3) entsprach 69% der untersuchten Gesamtmasse und besaß einen relativ geringen Sulfidgehalt. Es wurde daher angenommen, dass diese Fraktion mit geringem Risiko für die umgebende Umwelt deponiert werden könnten. Diese Hypothese wurde mit statischen und kinetischen Labortests geprüft. Die Tests ergaben, dass die Fraktion zwar weiterhin eine Netto-Aziditätsproduktion aufwies, aber eine erheblich kleinere als der unfraktionierte Gesamtabfall. Daraus wurde geschlossen, dass mit der Trennung in die Dichtefraktionen sowohl die Abfallmenge als auch das mit dem Abfall verbundene Risiko von Umweltverunreinigungen verringert werden kann.

Resumen

Se evaluaron los beneficios ambientales de la desulfuración de residuos en el campo de carbón Santa Catarina, Brasil. Los residuos de carbón provenientes de una planta de beneficio fueron separados en tres fracciones de distinta densidad, usando un proceso de dos etapas. La caracterización de estas fracciones indicó que las fracciones de baja (D<2,2 g/cm3) y alta (D>2,7 g/cm3) densidad, eran potencialmente generadoras de energía y ácido sulfúrico, respectivamente. La fracción de densidad intermedia (2,2<D<2,7 g/cm3) representaba 69% del total de la masa estudidada y tenía un contenido relativamente bajo de sulfuros por lo que se postuló que era adecuada para su disposición con mínimo riesgo ambiental. Esta hipótesis fue estudiada usando ensayos cinéticos y estáticos a escala de laboratorio los que indicaron que aunque la fracción remanente aún era generadora neta de acidez, la velocidad y la cantidad de metales, sales y acidez que se lixiviaban era considerablemente menor que la que había antes de la separación. Se concluyó que esta aproximación podría reducir la cantidad de residuo generado y del riesgo de polución asociado.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Brazilian Coal Network, CNPq, FINEP, CCSA, SATC, CTCL, and SIESESC/ABCM for the support provided for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Juarez R. do Amaral Filho

  2. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, LTM-DEMIN-PPGE3M, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Jéssica Weiler & Ivo A. H. Schneider

  3. Minerals to Metals, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Jennifer L. Broadhurst

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  1. Juarez R. do Amaral Filho
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  2. Jéssica Weiler
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  3. Jennifer L. Broadhurst
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  4. Ivo A. H. Schneider
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Correspondence to Juarez R. do Amaral Filho.

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do Amaral Filho, J.R., Weiler, J., Broadhurst, J.L. et al. The Use of Static and Humidity Cell Tests to Assess the Effectiveness of Coal Waste Desulfurization on Acid Rock Drainage Risk. Mine Water Environ 36, 429–435 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-017-0435-7

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