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Geochemical fractionation of hazardous elements in fresh and drilled weathered South African coal fly ashes

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Abstract

The chemical reactions of dry-disposed ash dump, ingressed oxygen, carbon dioxide, and infiltrating rainwater affect mineralogical transformation, redistribution, and migration of chemical species. Composite samples of weathered coal fly ash taken at various depths and fresh coal fly ash were examined using organic petrographic, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence techniques, and successive extraction procedures. Results obtained show relative enrichment of glass, Al–Fe-oxides, calcite, and tridymite in the weathered CFA, but the fresh CFA is enriched in mullite, inertinite, maghemite, and ettringite. The enrichment of the weathered CFA in amorphous glass suggests higher reactivity when compared to fresh CFA. The evident depletion of soluble oxides in the weathered CFA is attributed to flushing of the soluble salts by percolating rainwater. Comparative enrichment of examined elements in water-soluble, exchangeable, reducible, and residual fractions of the weathered CFA is partly due to the slow release of adsorbed chemical species from the alumina-silicate matrix and diffusion from the deeper sections of the particles of coal fly ash. Sodium and potassium show enrichment in the oxidisable fraction of fresh CFA. The estimated mobility factor indicates mobility for Ca, Mg, Na, Se, Mo, and Sb and K, Sr, V, Cu, Cr, Se, and B in fresh and weathered CFAs, respectively.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully recognise Ms Riana Rossouw at the Central Analytical Facility of Stellenbosch University (South Africa) for the ICP-MS/AES analysis and University of Venda Prof Gitari DHET Research Incentive funds for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Remediation and Geopollution Group, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University Ado Ekiti, Private Mail Bag 5363, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

    S. A. Akinyemi

  2. Environmental Remediation and Water Pollution Chemistry Group, Department of Ecology and Resources Management, School of Environmental Studies, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa

    S. A. Akinyemi, W. M. Gitari & R. Thobakgale

  3. Environmental and Nano Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa

    L. F. Petrik

  4. School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

    B. B. Nyakuma

  5. University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research, 2540 Research Park Drive, Lexington, KY, 40511, USA

    J. C. Hower

  6. School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    C. R. Ward

  7. Department of Civil and Environmental, Universidad de la Costa, Calle 58 #55-66, 080002, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia

    M. L. S. Oliveira & L. F. O. Silva

  8. Universidade do Vale do Rio do Sinos, Av. Unisinos, 950-Cristo Rei, São Leopoldo, RS, 93022-000, Brazil

    M. L. S. Oliveira

  9. Faculdade Meridional IMED, 304, Passo Fundo, RS, 99070-220, Brazil

    M. L. S. Oliveira

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  1. S. A. Akinyemi
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  2. W. M. Gitari
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  3. R. Thobakgale
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  4. L. F. Petrik
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  5. B. B. Nyakuma
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  6. J. C. Hower
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  7. C. R. Ward
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  8. M. L. S. Oliveira
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  9. L. F. O. Silva
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Correspondence to S. A. Akinyemi or L. F. O. Silva.

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Akinyemi, S.A., Gitari, W.M., Thobakgale, R. et al. Geochemical fractionation of hazardous elements in fresh and drilled weathered South African coal fly ashes. Environ Geochem Health 42, 2771–2788 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00511-3

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