Textural properties and organic matter in sediments from a hard coal mine landfill

Daniela Řimnáčová,Dominik Vöröš,Eva Geršlová,Lujza Medvecká

doi:10.35933/paliva.2021.02.01

Abstract

Textural properties as micropore surfaces and sorption capacity, chemical and technological analyses of sediments collected in the Lazy coal mine landfill (Upper Silesian Coal basin) are presented. The adsorption capacities together with net calorific values (Qid) and total organic carbon (TOC) decreased in the direction of flow while the ash content (Ad) increased. The samples with the highest TOC content have a relatively beneficial Qid and for residual coal particles from coal mining, were comparable with the Qid values of brown coal. The sorption capacity increased with increasing micropore content and correlated with higher levels of TOC. The sorption capacity decreased with distance from the saline water input. These materials play a significant role in the self-cleaning of mine water in-situ.

Highlights

Coal mining and coal processing is considered to be a significant source of contamination of environmental compartments on the Earth [1]
The aim of this study is to provide an overview about textural parameters and the content of organic matter in sediments originating from activities in the coal mining industry
The ash content (Ad) increased with distance from the saline water input, whereas the total organic carbon (TOC) content decreased with distance from the source of saline mine water

Summary

Introduction

Coal mining and coal processing is considered to be a significant source of contamination of environmental compartments on the Earth [1]. To understand the processes that occur in the environment, mine waste must be analysed in detail, and, owing to its heterogeneity, monitored with respect to changes in its surroundings. In the Lazy mine, hard coal has been intensively mined for more than 100 years. The local mining activities in the Lazy mine ceased in 2019. The former landscape in the surroundings have been completely changed due to intensive underground mining that resulted in cleaning (diluting) mine water in the cleaning tanks. Artificial streams with low flow-rate occur as the result of pumping mine water from the underground to the surface. The stream bed in the water bodies and streams is composed of fine to medium grained coal material with an admixture of mineral matter forming siltstone, sandstone and claystone

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Conclusion