As part of a demonstration project using alkaline stabilized flue gas desulfurization material (sFGD) to mitigate acid mine drainage (AMD) and reclaim abandoned mine lands, the  neutralization capacity of sFGD and constituent partitioning in liquid and solid phases were evaluated with a series of column and bench-scale leaching studies. The flow-through column tests simulate percolation of AMD through a mass of sFGD.  The bench-scale test, performed in a 12 ft × 4 ft × 4 ft acrylic tank, estimated constituent release from sFGD under conditions similar to those proposed for the demonstration project.  As part of this research, we are developing a 1-D reactive transport geochemical model to simulate changes in pH and major constituent concentrations, such as aluminum, calcium, chloride, iron, magnesium, sodium, and sulfate observed from these leaching tests. <br/>To develop the model, we focused on the results of a column experiment where AMD was passed through a column of sFGD over a period of 77 days. Inverse modeling was performed using PHREEQC to estimate potential chemical interactions in the neutralization process between AMD and the mineral phases in sFGD. These efforts tracked composition changes in the column to identify potential dissolution or precipitation of minerals bearing aluminum (e.g., etteringite, basaluminite, gibbsite), iron (e.g., ferrihydrate, siderite), and magnesium (e.g., dolomite, epsomite, magnesite, brucite).  The results indicated that the net molar precipitation for iron and aluminum did not vary with FGD composition change at the levels present. Subsequent kinetic modeling leveraged the simulated composition changes.  The final model will be applied to assist in the design of passive-treatment for AMD using sFGD or similar material.

Modeling acid mine drainage remediation with flue gas desulfurization by-products

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.