Arsenic content and distribution pattern in Chinese coals

About 500 samples of coal, pyritic coal balls, pyritic gangue and coal seam gangue were collected from different coal basins and geologic periods of coal formation to determine the arsenic (As) content and distribution pattern in China. The Permian-Carboniferous and Jurassic coals in the North China Plate and Northwest China account for nearly 85% of total Chinese coal reserves and data showed that As content ranged from 0.1 to 94?mg?kg^?1, with the majority between 1 and 14.9?mg?kg^?1. The As content of some Late Permian coals in Southwest Guizhou Province and stone coal in the South Qinling Mountain area were exceedingly high (30–534?mg?kg^?1), but the majority of coal in the Southwest Guizhou Province contained low to medium amounts. Only the coals, which are situated in or near igneous rocks and are not considered a part of Chinese coal reserves, possessed unusually high As content (>30?mg?kg^?1). Arsenic was also concentrated in pyritic coal balls and the pyritic gangue of the coal seam with values ranging from 21.5 to 142.46?mg?kg^?1 and an average of 69?mg?kg^?1 in Shaanxi and 78?mg?kg^?1 in Shandong. Arsenic contents in coal gangue in the Northwest and North China Plate is about 0.2–15?mg?kg^?1, a little lower than coals in the same seam. Washing gangue (waste from coal washing) generally contained more As than coal, because the washed gangue has more pyrite than the natural gangue (black shale). Washing coal reduced the content of the pyritic sulfur, heavy metals and As. Based on amounts of coal used with different As content in Chinese coal reserves, the average As content of Chinese coals is about 4.5?mg?kg^?1.     

煤矸石对盐碱土壤理化性质的改良效果

盐碱土壤物理结构差,植物成活率低,煤矸石具有改善盐碱土壤物理结构和化学性质的潜力,将煤矸石应用于盐碱地,能够达到煤矸石废弃资源循环利用和盐碱地改良的双重效果。为阐明煤矸石对盐碱土壤的改良效果和对土壤物理化学性质的影响,将不同用量(0、10%、20%、30%、40%、50%)和不同粒径(小粒径<1 mm、中粒径1—5 mm、大粒径>5 mm以及小中大等比例混合粒径)煤矸石施用于盐碱土壤,通过紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)盆栽试验,测定土壤的物理化学性质。结果表明,随着煤矸石用量的增加,紫花苜蓿株高和生物量呈现先增后减的趋势,20%用量煤矸石处理的株高和生物量分别比对照平均提高了21.45%和25.89%;团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)呈现先减后增再减的趋势;土壤饱和含水量、田间持水量呈现先稳定后降低的趋势;土壤EC值、pH值、碱解氮含量呈现持续降低的趋势,其中20%用量煤矸石处理的土壤pH比对照平均下降了0.51个pH单位;土壤总碳、总氮、总磷、有效磷含量呈现持续上升的趋势。从粒径角度考虑,对土壤EC、pH降幅以及团聚体含量、总养分、速效养分含量,小粒径>混合粒径≈中粒径>大粒径。土壤综合指数(SQI)随煤矸石用量增加先升后降;各粒径煤矸石处理下的SQI峰值大小表现为小粒径>混合粒径>中粒径>大粒径;20%用量下小粒径和混合粒径煤矸石处理的土壤SQI最高,分别比对照显著提高了68.27%和57.13%。综上,煤矸石可以改良盐碱土壤质量,促进植物生长,20%用量的小粒径和混合粒径煤矸石效果最好。     

海州露天煤矿区土壤线虫的群落特征

2010年7月—8月间对海州露天煤矿区的采场、排土场、排矸场不同年龄梯田层以及矿区农田、村庄周围土壤线虫群落特征进行研究。研究结果表明：露天煤矿区土壤线虫群落中,植物寄生类群线虫数量占主导优势（77.8%）,其次是食细菌类群（16.64%）、食真菌类群（5.80%）,捕食/杂食类群数量最少（0.39%）,排土场（除覆盖表土层）、排矸场土壤线虫数量随着梯田年限增加而增高;捕食/杂食类在远郊山坡最高（每kg干土67条）,排土场与排矸场混排岩土中、农田、村庄周围土壤中没有发现敏感的捕食/杂食类线虫;线虫成熟指数在排土场稳定土壤环境中较高,在严重干扰地如农田、年轻梯田中很低。土壤线虫群落特征的研究为露天煤矿区土壤生态系统稳定性、土壤生物评价实践提供科学依据。     

Lead distribution in Permo-Carboniferous coal from the North China Plate,China

The content and distribution of the lead in coal, gangue and the sulfur ball and the pyritic gangue of the Permo-Carboniferous in the North China Plate have been systematically studied (nearly 300 samples) in this paper. The Permo-Carboniferous coals in the North China Plate account for nearly 44.45 of total Chinese coal resources, and most of the steam coals in China come from the Permo-Carboniferous coals in the North China Plate. The result shows that lead content in the coal varied from 1.45 to 63.60 mg kg^–1, averaging 23.95 mg kg^–1; the lead content of the sulfur ball and the pyritic gangue in the coal seam ranges from 70.26–1060 mg kg^–1, with an average of 271.28 mg kg^–1; the lead content of the gangue is from 29.5 to 77.81 mg kg^–1, averaging at 40.77 mg kg^–1. The lead in the coal seam is mainly concentrated in the pyrite, such as sulfur ball, pyritic gangue or pyrite, and is the least concentrated in the organic of coal. The content of the lead has a direct ratio with the ash and the pyretic sulfur. Coal washing can reduce the content of the pyretic sulfur and the lead.     

绿肥牧草对矸石山生态环境的改善

煤矸石风化物上复垦试验结果表明：种植绿肥牧草，有助于提高煤矸石中氮、磷、钾等养分含量，降低表层含盐量，增加微生物类群数量，改善矸石山的水、气、热状况，加速煤矸石的风化，从而促使矸石山生态环境得到进一步改善，并获得较高的生物产量。     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in multimedia environment of Heshan coal district,Guangxi: distribution,source diagnosis and health risk assessment

Mining activities are among the major culprits of the wide occurrences of soil and water pollution by PAHs in coal district, which have resulted in ecological fragilities and health risk for local residents. Sixteen PAHs in multimedia environment from the Heshan coal district of Guangxi, South China, were measured, aiming to investigate the contamination level, distribution and possible sources and to estimate the potential health risks of PAHs. The average concentrations of 16 PAHs in the coal, coal gangue, soil, surface water and groundwater were 5114.56, 4551.10, 1280.12 ng g^?1, 426.98 and 381.20 ng L^?1, respectively. Additionally, higher soil and water PAH concentrations were detected in the vicinities of coal or coal gangue dump. Composition analysis, isomeric ratio, Pearson correlation analysis and principal component analysis were performed to diagnose the potential sources of PAHs in different environmental matrices, suggesting the dominant inputs of PAHs from coal/coal combustion and coal gangue in the soil and water. Soil and water guidelines and the incremental lifetime risk (ICLR) were used to assess the health risk, showing that soil and water were heavily contaminated by PAHs, and mean ICLR_{coal/coal-gangue} and mean ICLR_soil were both significantly higher than the acceptable levels (1 × 10^?4), posing high potential carcinogenic risk to residents, especially coal workers. This study highlights the environmental pollution problems and public health concerns of coal mining, particularly the potential occupational health hazards of coal miners exposed in Heshan.     

煤矸石风化物不同粒级中重金属镉含量及其形态变化

对抚顺西露天矿煤矸石山表层煤矸石风化母岩进行多点取样,风化物筛分成>2 mm、2～0.25 mm和<0.25 mm等3个粒级,分析测定了矸石山表层母岩及其风化物不同粒级中Cd含量及其形态变化特征.结果表明:煤矸石母岩及其风化物中cd含量超过土壤环境质量2级标准,页岩、泥岩及其风化物pH值7.2～8.6,但燃后泥岩pH值4.9.碳质页岩2～0.25 mm粒级风化物中Cd损失最多,为73.6%;<0.25 mm细粒级Cd损失较少,为17.0%,这与细颗粒的表面吸附作用有关;泥岩及其各粒级风化物Cd元素不易损失,其Cd含量变化也相对较小;但燃后泥岩风化物中的Cd较容易损失.煤矸石风化物各样品类型中的Cd均以残渣态为主,可还原态和弱酸可提取态所占比例次之,可氧化态所占比例最小.弱酸可提取态Cd在细颗粒风化物中所占比例较高.     

煤矸石堆放场周围玉米作物中苯并(a)芘污染特征

以焦作矿区演马矿煤矸石堆放场周围农田玉米为研究对象,对玉米中苯并(a)芘污染特征进行了分析研究.在矸石堆周围布设三条采样线采集玉米样品,玉米样品经提取、浓缩、净化处理后采用高效液相色谱(HPLc)法对其中苯并(a)芘含量进行检测分析.结果表明,研究区玉米作物叶子中苯并(a)芘污染水平较高,达46.7%,茎和籽均未出现苯并(a)芘污染现象,且玉米各部位苯并(a)芘含量与距矸石堆距离呈反比.进一步指出矿区企业应加强对周围环境生态的预防保护,以确保企业的可持续发展.     

Fractionation and speciation of arsenic in fresh and combusted coal wastes from Yangquan, northern China

In this study, the content and speciation of arsenic in coal waste and gas condensates from coal waste fires were investigated, respectively, using the digestion and sequential extraction methods. The fresh and fired-coal waste samples were collected from Yangquan, which is one of the major coal production regions in northern China. High-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) was used to determine the concentrations of four major arsenic species [As(III), As(V), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsenic acid (DMA)] in the extracts, while ICP-MS was used to measure total As content. Arsenic content in the investigated coal wastes and the condensate ranges between 23.3 and 69.3 mg/kg, which are higher than its reported average content in soils. Arsenic in coal waste exists primarily in the residual fraction; this is followed in decreasing order by the organic matter-bound, Fe–Mn oxides-bound, exchangeable, carbonates-bound, and water-soluble fractions. The high content of arsenic in the condensates indicates that combustion or spontaneous combustion is one of the major ways for arsenic release into the environment from coal waste. About 15% of the arsenic in the condensate sample is labile and can release into the environment under leaching processes. The water extractable arsenic (WEA) in the fresh coal waste, fired coal wastes, and the condensate varied between 14.6 and 341 μg/kg, with As(V) as the major species. Furthermore, both MMA and DMA were found in fresh coal wastes, fired coal wastes, and the condensate.     

Distribution of selected elements and PAH in freshly deposited sediments of waste water streams from Lubin district, Southwest Poland

Nine selected elements (Cu, Pb, As, Zn, Co, Ni, Cr, Cd and Fe) were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy in 15 samples from the tailings pond (Zelazny Most) and waste water streams (Moskorzynke and Rudna) in the Kupferschiefer mining district in Southwest Poland. Waste water from mining and industry enter the Zelazny Most pond. The water then flows through Moskorzynke and Rudna streams, and discharges into the River Odra. The analytic results indicate that the contamination with Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Co, Cd and Fe extend about 6km along the streams in contrast to the nonpolluted samples close the River Odra. Their concentrations reach a level, which could be toxic for plants, animals and humans. The contamination with Ni and Cr continued at least 20km along Rudna stream. Besides mechanical transport, redox conditions and C_org contents also played an important role for trace element and Fe contamination in Rudna stream. The samples with high C_org contents have also high contents of trace metals. In Moskorzynke stream the element contamination was mainly caused by mechanical transport of particles. Polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), which is abundant in Kupferschiefer, is toxic for animals and humans. The PAH concentration in the stream sediments was determined by GC and GC/MS. The results indicate that the contamination of PAH reaches 6 and 17mgkg_–1 in samples TP1 and RS6, respectively. In the other samples, the PAH contents are lower than 3mgkg_–1. Some PAH could be solved by waste water in the tailings pond and migrated to the stream sediments. Some PAH might be contained in particles which were transported mechanically from the tailings pond into stream sediments.     

Leaching of trace and major elements from coal ash dumps

Coal ash samples taken from an active, currently filled cassette as well as samples taken from passive cassettes of the power plant in Obrenovac (Yugoslavia) were subjected to sequential leaching, comprising of extraction with distilled water, 1 M KC1 and 0.1 M HC1. Concentrations of trace and major elements found in extracts revealed that lead and cadmium are not present in significant concentrations, while other elements show different behavior: practically all absorbed trace elements and most of the major elements are partially leached during transport, while later, on the dump, only a slow release of most of the examined ion‐exchangeable elements occurs.     

Reagenzienfreie Bestimmung von Quecksilberspuren in Wasserproben

A comprehensive ecological monitoring of hazardous substances is indispensable to preserve our health and environment. Therefore, fast and inexpensive techniques for routine analysis of pollutants are essential. However, in the measuring procedure itself often toxic reagents are used producing hazardous waste. Omitting environmentally hazardous substances in the analysis procedure is an important contribution to a more sustainable and green analytical chemistry. A reagent-free method for ultra-trace (pg to ng?L^-1) mercury determination in water samples was developed and validated. An active nanogold collector integrated in a fully automated flow injection system is the core of this new method. All mercury species dissolved in the water sample are adsorbed and preconcentrated on the nano-structured gold surface of the collector. After rinsing and drying of the collector, the enriched mercury is thermally desorbed and finally measured by atomic fluorescence spectrometry. This method was optimized and validated for the determination of mercury in natural waters. The influence of various water constituents was investigated and only high contents of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) showed interferences of mercury preconcentration due to the strong complexation of mercury by DOC. This restriction can be solved by UV-irradiation, i.?e. reagent-free digestion of DOC rich samples prior to the preconcentration procedure. Mercury concentration of several natural river and sea waters and water from the discharge of a waste water treatment plant were determined with this new analytical method. Accuracy and precision of the method were demonstrated by several recovery experiments in natural water samples (recoveries: 96–102?%) and by analysis of the certified reference material BCR-579 (Mercury in Coastal Sea Water; recovery: 101?±?1?%). With a detection limit of only 80?pg?Hg?L^–1 the proposed method is highly sensitive. Furthermore the method avoids potential contamination of the sample by reagent addition and is due to the reagent-free procedure environment-friendly. Hence this work is an important contribution to sustainable environmental analysis and at the same time improves accurate routine mercury trace analysis.     

The effect of rehabilitation on the rate of oxidation of pyrite in a mine waste rock dump

Temperature profiles within a mine waste rock dump undergoing pyritic oxidation have been used to estimate the rate of oxidation and the sites where oxidation was occurring. The waste rock dump is located at the abandoned Rum Jungle mine site in Northern Australia and was a major source of pollution to the local river system. The dump was rehabilitated in 1983-84 by reshaping to reduce erosion and covering with clay and soil to reduce infiltration of water.Heat source distributions were derived from temperature profiles measured in the dump. The oxidation of pyritic material is the main cause of heat in the dump, hence the rate and location of oxidation can be obtained from the distribution of heat sources. A comparison of the heat source distributions before and after rehabilitation showed that rehabilitation greatly reduced or stopped the oxidation of pyrite in the dump.     

Residuary Toxic Elements And PAHs in Sediments of the Zbiornik Gilow Tailings Pond and Zimmica Stream from Lubin District, Southwest Poland

Eight selected elements (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr and Ni) were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) in five samples from the tailings pond (Zbiornik Gilow) and waste water stream (Zimmica) in the Kupferschiefer mining district in Southwest Poland. Waste water from mining and concentration plants was discharged into Zbiornik Gilow pond for 30 years before 1989. Below Zbiornik Gilow the water flows through Zimmica stream, and then discharges into the River Odra. The analytic results indicate that the contamination of As, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb and Zn has spread out over 5km, and the contamination by Ni and Cr extends for 1.5km along the Zimmica stream although the stream has been abandoned since 1989. These elements could still be toxic for plants, animals and humans. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined by GC and GC/MS. The results of the sediment samples show a contamination of PAHs only in trace contents.     

Assessment of solid waste and dumpsite leachate and topsoil

Dumpsite leachate contains different hazardous substances, some of which threaten the environment. In this study, municipal solid waste, dumpsite leachate and topsoil from seven different dumpsites in Lagos and Ibadan, Nigeria were analysed using standard methods. The parameters analysed in the composite leachate samples collected are pH, solids, alkalinity, chloride, nitrate, sulfate, phosphate, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand turbidity, heavy metals (e.g. Zn, Pb, Co, Ni, Cd) and some persistent organic pollutants (e.g. polyaromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs] and polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs]). Total organic carbon, heavy metals (e.g. Zn, Pb, Co, Ni, Cd) and organic pollutants (e.g. PAHs, PCBs) were analysed in the dumpsite topsoil and the control samples. The samples for heavy metal determination were digested using concentrated nitric acid and the digestate was analysed using atomic absorption spectrometry, whereas organic pollutants were extracted using cold extraction and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The study revealed that dumpsites in Ibadan have ～90% domestic and 10% industrial waste, whereas the figures for Lagos are 80% and 20%, respectively. In the leachate samples, concentrations of PAHs and PCBs ranged from 0.85 to 1.47 mg/L and 0.01 to 0.08 mg/L, respectively; the values were 0.94–2.79 mg/kg and 10.0–412 μg/kg in the topsoil. If not properly managed, dumpsite leachate can seep into groundwater and surface water via run-off, and can have adverse effects on human health and the entire ecosystem.     

大冶龙角山矿区几种植物的重金属吸收特征

通过调查采样和化学测试,对大冶龙角山矿区小麦、油菜、莴苣、白菜苔、豌豆等几种主要农作物中的重金属Cu、Pb、Cd及类金属As的质量分数进行分析。结果表明,供试农作物中,莴苣的重金属(包括As)质量分数显著高于其它作物的,其中以Cd质量分数最高,而豌豆的重金属质量分数最低,其它作物重金属质量分数由高到低的顺序为油菜、腌菜、白菜苔、小麦;小麦中的重金属质量分数依次是w(Cd) > w(As) > w(Pb) > w(Cu) > w(Cr),油菜中为w(Cd) > w(As) > w(Pb) > w(Cr) > w(Cu),莴苣中为w(Cd) > w(Cu) > w(Pb) > w(As)> w(Cr);随河流向下,作物中重金属含量变化规律与相应土壤中重金属累积量基本一致,如油菜含铜量在上游为0.61 g/g,在下游为0.37 g/g。     

Chemical identification and genotoxicity analysis of petrochemical industrial wastewater

The actual harmful effects of industrial wastewater can not be reflected by the conventional water quality index. Therefore, the change in dissolved organic matter and the genetic toxicity of petrochemical wastewater were observed in the current study by examining the wastewater treatment plant of a large petrochemical enterprise in Northwest China. Using XAD-8, MSC, and DA-7 resins, the wastewater was separated into six fractions, namely, hydrophobic acid (HOA), hydrophobic neutral (HOB), hydrophobic alkaline, hydrophilic acid, hydrophilic alkaline, and hydrophilic neutral. Umu-test was used to detect the genetic toxicity of the wastewater samples, and fluorescence spectra were also obtained to examine genetic toxic substances. The results show that wastewater treatment facilities can effectively reduce the concentration of organic matter in petrochemical wastewater (p<0.05). However, the mixing of aniline wastewater can increase the amount of organic carbon (p<0.05) and can overload facilities. This finding shows that the mixed collection and joint treatment of different types of petrochemical wastewater can affect the water quality of the effluent. Particularly, hydrophobic substances can be difficult to remove and account for a relatively large proportion of the effluent. The mixture of aniline wastewater can increase the genetic toxicity of the effluent (p<0.05), and biologic treatment can not effectively decrease the toxicity. Most of the genetic toxicology may exist in the HOA and HOB fractions. Fluorescence spectroscopy also confirms this result, and tryptophan-like substances may play an important role in genetic toxicity.     

废水处理新技术中的超临界水氧化法

超临界水氧化法是一种有效处理有机废水的方法，本文在总结超临界水的特点和优点的基础上，着重介绍了超临界水氧化的基本原理，工艺流程及应用状况，探讨该项技术的前景与发展趋势。、     

Fluorosis caused by indoor coal combustion in China: discovery and progress

In this study, investigations into endemic fluorosis were conducted and fluorine concentration in environmental samples determined. In an indoor coal-combustion-type fluorosis area, local clay was used to mix with coal for indoor combustion. There are two key steps in the procedure of the indoor transition of fluorine: indoor wet corns and vegetables strongly absorbed fluorine from indoor air; and fluorine strongly accumulated in clay, which was mixed with coal for combustion. Therefore, with the increasing of the percentage of clay in the clay-mixed coal as well as corn in foodstuff, the ratio of fluorosis will be increased.     

Influences of coal mining water irrigation on the maize losses in the Xingdong Mine area, China

In 2008, a maize underproduction disaster occurred in the Xianyu village after irrigation using the coal mining water from the Xingdong Mine, China. This disaster resulted in about 40 hectare maize underproduction and 20 hectare total loss of the maize yields. In order to study the reason, a total of 25 soil, water and plant samples were taken from the study area. These samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and ion chromatography. The results indicate that the contents of both water-soluble fluorine and total fluorine are very high and resulting of maize underproduction and total loss of production. The possible pollution sources of fluorine in the study area could be from the coal mine water used for irrigation and glass chemical factory near the study area.