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Long-term leaching of As, Cd, Mo, Pb, and Zn from coal fly ash in column test

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Abstract

Globally, millions of tons of coal fly ash (CFA) are generated per year, and the majority of this material is usually stored in stock piles or landfills, and in a long-term, it can be an environmental hazard if rainwater infiltrates the ashes. Long-term leaching studies of Brazilian ashes are scarce. The purpose of this study was to evaluate arsenic, cadmium, molybdenum, lead, and zinc leaching behavior from a Brazilian CFA by a column experiment designed to simulate field conditions: slightly acid rain considering seasonality of precipitation and temperature for a long-term leaching period (336 days). All elements were leached from CFA, except lead. Elements leaching behavior was influenced by leaching time, leaching volume, and temperature. Higher leachability of As and Cd from CFA during warm and wet season was observed. Results indicate a potential risk to soil and groundwater, since ashes are usually stored in uncovered fields on power plants vicinity.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Cambui Coal Company (Companhia Carbonifera Cambui) for permission to carry out this project.

Funding

This project received financial support from São Paulo Research Foundation, FAPESP [grant number 2008/06775-6]. All ash analyses were carried out at Chemical and Environmental Analyses Laboratory, IPEN-CNEN/SP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, CCNH-UFABC, Av. dos Estados, 5001, CEP 09210-580,-Bangú, Santo André, SP, Brazil

    C. N. Lange

  2. Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN-CNEN/SP, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, 2242, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil

    M. Flues, G. Hiromoto & I. M. C. Camargo

  3. Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo, POLI-USP, Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, travessa 2, 271, Prédio da Engenharia Civil, São Paulo, SP, 05508-970, Brazil

    M. E. G. Boscov

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  1. C. N. Lange
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  2. M. Flues
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  4. M. E. G. Boscov
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  5. I. M. C. Camargo
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Correspondence to C. N. Lange.

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Lange, C.N., Flues, M., Hiromoto, G. et al. Long-term leaching of As, Cd, Mo, Pb, and Zn from coal fly ash in column test. Environ Monit Assess 191, 602 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7798-0

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