A comprehensive study on the contents and leaching of trace elements from fly-ash originating from polish hard coal by NAA and AAS methods

Abstract

In order to assess the environmental risks associated with the emission of fly-ash into the atmosphere and its storage on waste heaps, the trace element contents of fly-ashes from burning Polish hard coal were determined by a newly developed INAA method. Leaching of trace elements from the fly-ash by water and H2SO4 solution (pH approximately 2.5) simulating acid rain, respectively, was studied using AAS and spectrophotometric methods. Analogous experiments were done with neutron-irradiated fly-ash, following the composition of the eluate gamma-spectrometrically. The new fine fly-ash (CTA-FFA-1) candidate reference material was prepared, and the certification was undertaken on the basis of an international intercomparison run. Preliminary evaluation of results shows that at least 38 elements will be certified and, in addition, the "information values" for at least 12 elements will be given.

Solubility and Fractionation of Different Metals in Fly Ash of Powder River Basin Coal

“…Long-term leaching studies predict that fly ash will lose substantial amounts of soluble salts over time, but simulation model predicts that the loss of trace elements from fly ash deposits through leaching will be very slow. While a substantial amount of research has been devoted to the problem of leaching of heavy metals from disposed fly ash (Cherry and Guthrie 1977;Van der Sloot et al 1985;Dybczynski et al 1990;Fliszar-Baranyai et al 1992;Wasay 1992;Reardon et al 1995;Hassett 1994;Fleming et al 1996), the release of non-metals has attracted considerably less attention. For example, arsenic and selenium (van der Hoek et al 1996;van der Hoek and Comans 1994) stand out as potential problems to public health, vegetation, and animals.…”

Studies on hydrometallurgical processes using nuclear techniques to be applied in copper industry. II. Application of radiotracers in copper leaching from flotation tailings

“…Sometimes, it is also used to analyse solid residues after the leaching process. Column studies on leaching (by water and simulated acid rain: H 2 SO 4 , pH = 2.5) of trace elements from neutron-irradiated fl y-ash samples were described by Dybczynski et al [17]. Disintegration process of realgar ore was examined by the neutron activation method to determine the amount of arsenic sulphide dissolved from As 2 S 3 [18].…”