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Accelerated aqueous leaching of selenium and arsenic from coal associated rock samples with selenium speciation using ultrasound extraction

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Ultrasound extraction was used to compare the accelerated release rates of selenium and arsenic from three rocks (BT700, BT 571 and BT 60) that are associated with mountaintop mining and valley fill coal mining practiced in southern parts of West Virginia, USA. The concentrations of arsenic released from rocks were found to be three orders of magnitude higher than that of selenium. The accelerated leaching rate constants were ten times higher for arsenic compared to selenium. Se (IV) was found to be stable under ultrasound extraction conditions used whereas As (III) was quickly oxidized to As (V). BT700 was found to have more Se (IV) compared to BT571 while BT60 did not have any significant Se (IV) concentrations. Such compositional and kinetic information becomes important when determining suitable mining waste treatment protocols that have to be undertaken to different types of overburden before it is dumped in valleys.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to express sincere gratitude to the following: (1) United States Geological Survey—State Water Resources Institute Program for financial assistance, Grant No. 06HGR0127, (2) WVGES for providing the pulverized coal-associated rock samples and, (3) Dr. Louis McDonald, WVU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, for the use of his microwave digester and helpful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, PO Box 6045, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    I. Pumure & R. B. Smart

  2. Department of Geography and Geology, West Virginia University, PO Box 6300, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    J. J. Renton

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  1. I. Pumure
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  2. J. J. Renton
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  3. R. B. Smart
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Correspondence to R. B. Smart.

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Pumure, I., Renton, J.J. & Smart, R.B. Accelerated aqueous leaching of selenium and arsenic from coal associated rock samples with selenium speciation using ultrasound extraction. Environ Geol 56, 985–991 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1200-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1200-9

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