Heavy metal contamination of groundwater due to fly ash disposal of coal-fired thermal power plant, Parichha, Jhansi, India

Chanchal Verma,Sangeeta Madan,Athar Hussain,Shashi Dubey

doi:10.1080/23311916.2016.1179243

Abstract

AbstractThe present study focused on the groundwater contamination due to fly ash disposal of coal-fired thermal power plant into a non liner ash pond. Six villages were selected as study site around ash pond of Parichha thermal power plant, Jhansi. Groundwater samples were collected on seasonal basis; winter season (January 2015), pre monsoon season (May 2015), and monsoon season (August 2015) using composite sampling method. Five heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cr, Mn, and Fe) were detected in coal, fly ash, and groundwater samples. Heavy metal concentration in coal and fly ash was assessed by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence, while AAS was used for groundwater assessment. Heavy metal concentration in groundwater was ranged as Pb (0.170–0.581 ppm), Ni (0.024–0.087 ppm), Fe (0.186–11.98 ppm), Cr (0.036–0.061 ppm), and Mn (0.013–0.178 ppm). The observed results revealed the exceeding value of heavy metals prescribed by WHO for groundwater.

Highlights

Heavy metal contamination in air, soil and water is a global problem that is a growing threat to human beings
Heavy metal concentration obtained in coal, fly ash and groundwater samples are presented in Tables 2 and 3 respectively
Fly ash in slurry form may be a major source of groundwater contamination into an unlined pond

Summary

Introduction

Heavy metal contamination in air, soil and water is a global problem that is a growing threat to human beings. There are hundreds of sources of heavy metal pollution, including coal combustion in thermal power plants (Khan, Din, Ihsanullah, & Ahmad, 2011). Fly ash produced during the combustion of coal contains several toxic heavy metals like lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), etc. The extent of heavy metals in fly ash depends on both the mineralogy and particle size distribution of the raw material being burnt and combustion temperature. Fly ash is found to be more enriched with several toxic elements as compared to its parent coal (Baba, Gurdal, Sengunalp, & Ozay, 2008) because many of trace elements present in parent coal is vaporized during the combustion. Coal-based thermal power plants contributing to 61% of total installed capacity, are the major source of electricity generation in India (Tiwari, Bajpai, Dewangan, & Tamrakar, 2015).

Methods

Results

Conclusion