Thermoelectric Power Station Research Articles

Effects of Battery Energy Storage Systems on the Frequency Stability of Weak Grids with a High-Share of Grid-Connected Converters

To achieve an energy sector independent from fossil fuels, a significant increase in the penetration of variable renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, is imperative. However, these sources lack the inertia provided by conventional thermo-electric power stations, which is essential for maintaining grid frequency stability. In this study, a grid resembling Madeira Island’s power generation mix was modeled using the Matlab/Simulink platform. The model included solar, wind, hydro, and thermo-electric generation to accurately represent the energy landscape of Madeira Island. Three scenarios were examined: one reflecting the current power generation on Madeira Island, a future scenario with a substantial rise in the percentage of photovoltaic (PV) generation, and the same future scenario but incorporating a battery energy storage system (BESS). Various analyses were conducted to assess the impact on frequency stability during a ground fault and rapid load/generation changes. In the future scenario without a BESS, the thermoelectric power plant generator desynchronized, leading to system collapse in several simulations. However, with the addition of a BESS, a significant improvement in frequency stability was observed. The thermoelectric power plant generator could return to a steady state after each disturbance. Furthermore, both the maximum frequency deviation and the absolute value of the Rate of Change of Frequency (ROCOF) were reduced, indicating enhanced system performance and stability.

Frequency Stability of Multi-source Power System using Whale Optimization Algorithm

The Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), an evolutionary computing approach, is presented in this study and is used to auto regulated frequency of many composed power systems including thermoelectric power station, hydroelectric, and gas power plants. The purpose of this process follows the concept of a hunting mechanism of fish through water bubbles. The WOA is first applied to a single region with a multi-source power system for optimal gain adjustment of proportional integral controllers (PID). This approach is then applied to two areas, each having six generating sources with AC and AC-DC links. The credible achievements of the WOA-based PID controller are compared with previously constructed optimization approaches like Teaching Learning Based Optimization (TLBO), Differential evolution (DE) and Optimal Controller (OC), which is demonstrated in terms of frequency error, settling time and damping ratio. The performance indices of the purposed controller are analyzed through different objective functions like integral square error (ISE), integral time absolute error (ITAE), integral absolute error (IAE) and integral time squared error (ITSE). By using step load agitation, the simulation results indicate that the suggested technique is computationally stable.

Progress for carbon dioxide geological storage in West Macedonia: A field and laboratory-based survey.

Background: It is widely acknowledged that carbon dioxide (CO 2), a greenhouse gas, is largely responsible for climatic changes that can lead to warming or cooling in various places. This disturbs natural processes, creating instability and fragility of natural and social ecosystems. To combat climate change, without compromising technology advancements and maintaining production costs at acceptable levels, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies can be deployed to advance a non-disruptive energy transition. Capturing CO 2 from industrial processes such as thermoelectric power stations, refineries, and cement factories and storing it in geological mediums is becoming a mature technology. Part of the Mesohellenic Basin, situated in Greek territory, is proposed as a potential area for CO 2 storage in saline aquifers. This follows work previously done in the StrategyCCUS project, funded by the EU. The work is progressing under the Pilot Strategy, funded by the EU. Methods: The current investigation includes geomechanical and petrophysical methods to characterise sedimentary formations for their potential to hold CO 2 underground. Results: Samples were found to have both low porosity and permeability while the corresponding uniaxial strength for the Tsotyli formation was 22 MPa, for Eptechori 35 MPa and Pentalofo 74 MPa. Conclusions:The samples investigated indicate the potential to act as cap-rocks due to low porosity and permeability, but fluid pressure within the rock should remain within specified limits; otherwise, the rock may easily fracture and result in CO 2 leakage or/and deform to allow the flow of CO 2. Further investigation is needed to identify reservoir rocks as well more sampling to allow for statistically significant results.

Progress for carbon dioxide geological storage in West Macedonia: A field and laboratory-based survey

Background: It is widely acknowledged that carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, is largely responsible for climatic changes that can lead to warming or cooling in various places. This disturbs natural processes, creating instability and fragility of natural and social ecosystems. To combat climate change, without compromising technology advancements and maintaining production costs at acceptable levels, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies can be deployed to advance a non-disruptive energy transition. Capturing CO2 from industrial processes such as thermoelectric power stations, refineries, and cement factories and storing it in geological mediums is becoming a mature technology. Part of the Mesohellenic Basin, situated in Greek territory, is proposed as a potential area for CO2 storage in saline aquifers. This follows work previously done in the StrategyCCUS project, funded by the EU. The work is progressing under the Pilot Strategy, funded by the EU. Methods: The current investigation includes geomechanical and petrophysical methods to characterise sedimentary formations for their potential to hold CO2 underground. Results: Samples were found to have both low porosity and permeability while the corresponding uniaxial strength for the Tsotyli formation was 22 MPa, for Eptechori 35 MPa and Pentalofo 74 MPa. Conclusions: The samples investigated indicate the potential to act as rock caps due to low porosity and permeability, but fluid pressure within the rock should remain within specified limits; otherwise, the rock may easily fracture and result in CO2 leakage or/and deform to allow the flow of CO2. Further investigation is needed to identify reservoir rocks as well more sampling to allow for statistically significant results.

Определение антропогенного загрязнения по физико-химическим характеристикам талого снега

The state of the environment in cities is determined by the degree of pollution of individual components of the environment. Geochemical anomalies in urban agglomerations are often formed in pollution depositing media such as soil, snow cover, bottom sediments. The purpose of the study is environmental monitoring of anthropogenic impact in different areas of Smolensk and Vyazma according to the physical and chemical characteristics of melted snow. Snow was chosen as the object of the study, because it accumulates many substances entering the atmosphere, and subsequently can become a source of secondary pollution of the soil cover, underground and surface waters. The study determined organoleptic parameters (smell, color, turbidity, the presence of sediment in melt water), chemical parameters (the number of suspended particles, pH, total rigidity and mineralization, the amount of organic substances).The presence of chloride ions (Cl-), sulfate ions (SO42-), nitrate ions (NO3-), nitrite ions (NO2-), bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) and ions of some heavy metals (Pb2+, Cu2+, Fe3+) have been determined. Bioindication of the studied samples on watercress has been carried out in parallel. A low level of air pollution in Smolensk and Vyazma has been established. The greatest contribution to the formation of the level of pollution in the cold period of the year is made by suspended substances, iron and manganese compounds in concentrations exceeding the maximum permissible concentration. The concentration of impurities depends on the distance from large industrial objects, automobile and railway objects, sanitary and technical condition and cleaning regime of the territory. The courtyard territories of Smolensk and Vyazma are the cleanest. The largest part of snow pollution is provided by the thermoelectric power stations and transport. Samples taken near car parks, railway tracks and near the thermoelectric power stations were the most unfavorable.

A Complex Organomineral Admixture For Cement Saving

The aim of the research is to prepare a composition of a complex organomineral admixture based on industrial waste for cement saving, to experimentally establish the optimum crushing degree of an ash-and-slag waste composition and to estimate the ratio between mineral and organic components of the complex admixture, ensuring the possibility of reducing cement consumption without loss of concrete strength. As a mineral component of the complex admixture the wastes from thermoelectric power stations were used, representing by an ash-and-slag waste composition crushed to a fine powder condition. Optimization of the complex admixture is carried out using mathematical methods of the theory of planning experiments.
 As a result of this research a quadratic polynomial model of influence of crushing fineness of ash-and-slag wastes and cement consumption on concrete strength has been obtained. It is established, that depending on the degree of crushing of ash-and-slag waste composition within values of specific surface of received powder from 2400 to 4000 cm2/g it is possible to reduce cement consumption by 8-18 % without loss in strength of concrete. The introduction of complex organomineral admixtures into concrete is very effective as it saves cement. However, special studies are required in each case. The compositions of the new complex admixtures are tested on the basis of traditional raw materials, and economic efficiency in saving cement is established. It is proposed to use the methodology of mathematical modelling of the technological complex system under study, presented in this article.

River water temperature demonstrates resistance to long‐term air temperature change

AbstractEcosystem health and water quality of rivers are dependent on their temperature. With ongoing human‐induced climate change causing increases in air temperature across the globe, it is anticipated the stream temperatures will rise too—in turn increasing the rates of biogeochemical stream processes and potentially threatening the viability and health of aquatic organisms. To understand the relationship between climate change and stream temperature response, the longer the records that can be analysed, the more the robust the analysis for detecting change. In this study, we analyse records from 263 catchments from across the United Kingdom for 45 years from 1974 to 2019 to assess the link between air temperature and stream temperature change. To give the most precise analysis of these long records, Bayesian hierarchical modelling was used and showed that: (i) The Bayesian hierarchical approach was 59% more precise, that is, reduced uncertainty on long‐term trends, than using simple linear regression. (ii) The increase in annual average air temperature over 45 years across the United Kingdom showed no significant differences between 22 weather stations and gave a 45‐year change of 1.35 ± 0.9°C. (iii) Trends in annual mean stream temperature change varied from −2.3 °C to 2.0 °C over 45 years, with the mean over 263 sites being 0.5 °C over 45 years. (iv) 1% of rivers showed a stream temperature trend significantly greater than the air temperature trend but 3% of sites showed a stream temperature trend significantly lower than zero. (v) 74% of all river sites showed no significant monotonic trend, either positive or negative, in water temperature even after 45 years. The observed declines in stream temperature could be ascribed to the closures of thermoelectric power stations but it is unclear why the stream temperature at some sites has risen faster than air temperature. The study shows that mean river temperature was well buffered against changes in air temperature—a 1°C rise in air temperature giving 0.37°C in mean stream temperature.

Review: Oil Spaces: Exploring the Global Petroleumscape

Review: <i>Oil Spaces: Exploring the Global Petroleumscape</i>

The Environmental Kuznets Curve at the thermoelectricity-water nexus: Empirical evidence from Spain

Energy and water are essential resources for ensuring economic growth. Both sectors are closely interrelated. Electricity generation is one of the most water-intensive activities worldwide and the cooling of thermoelectric power stations represents one of the largest uses of water within the energy sector. This study provides evidence on the existence of an Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) for water withdrawal at the thermoelectricity sector in Spain, one of the most arid countries in Europe, for the period 1970–2019, using the ARDL model. Our results show a direct relationship between per capita income and water withdrawal until an estimated turning point is reached. In the Spanish case, further development has led to a reduction in water needs for the following reasons: 1) the use of less water-intensive cooling systems, 2) changes in generation technology.

Experimental persistence of change: collages of the palimpsestic temporalities of Freixo's Thermoelectric Power Station (Campanhã, Porto)

This paper presents an artistic work developed as part of the curatorial research Persistent Materialities, that experimented with different modes of documentation and mediation of loss of the post-industrial ruins of Freixo’s Thermoelectric Power Station (Campanhã, Porto). Whereas this building becomes less legible as an official object of industrial heritage and yield into continuous ruination and post-human condition, the collaged photographs presented here constructs a narration and interpretation of a retrospective history. The visual representations usually surrounding the imaginary of this landscape highlight two fixed modes of its existence: historical photographs are instrumentalized in a conservative discourse of preservation while architectural collages and technical drawings project a possible future where the building is no more. Distancing from these visual representations that conceive the landscape apart from its contingent and material reality, the retrospective collages stage the complexity of layers that assemble and reassemble this palimpsestic landscape. The recollection of segments, traces and fragments of a dynamic and mutable history quest for the endurance of the transformed and transforming aspect of this heterotopic space rather than the landscape itself.

Ground beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) communities as natural indicators of ecosystem restoration on the terminated fly ash dump of the thermoelectric power station (Novosibirsk, Russia)

The aim of the study. The aim of the study was to reveal regularities in the development of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae)’ communities, to determine their species peculiarities as dependent on soil formation rate and soil ecology in the ecosystems developed on the terminated fly ash dump of the thermoelectric power station over nine years of restoration. Location and time of the study. The main object of the study was a terminated fly ash dump No.1 of the thermoelectric power station No.5 in Novosibirsk, Russia. (54°59' NL, , 83°03' EL). Soil samples were collected in 2019, whereas the ground beetles were collected in 2017 and 2019. Methodology. Six study sites, corresponding to the fly ash dump sedimentation zones, were chosen. The undisturbed white birch forest and clover-brome meadow were chosen as controls representing mature climax ecosystems. Soil cover, developing on the fly ash dump after its termination, was described according to the soil classification of technogenic landscapes, and was shown to consist of various types of embryozems (Technosols). Soil water content on each study site was measured in 0–5cm layer by gravimetric method. Soil samples were collected in May 2019. To collect ground beetles five traps were placed on each study site, each trap filled up to 1/3 of its volume with 4% acetic acid for fixing the trapped beetles. The beetles were collected in May–June 1017 and in June–July 2019. The data obtained were used to calculate α-biodiversity indices and perform cluster analysis using PAST v.3.09 software. Main results. Altogether 74 species of the ground beetle we found: 60 species of ground beetles were identified in the revegetating fly ash dump areas, with 48 species found at the sites amended with potentially fertile substrate (PFS), and 35 species found at the sites without PFS addition. The control sites under birch forest and meadow had 14 and 10 species, respectively. Thus the ground beetles’ abundance in the reclaimed area was almost 3 times greater than in the non-reclaimed area (973 specimens vs. 347). Cluster analysis discriminated three groups in the studied fly ash dump sites, namely dry non-reclaimed sites, dry PFS sites and moist sites. Soil cover of the studied fly ash dump was represented by initial, organic matter accumulating, humus-accumulating and sod embryozems (Technosols). Conclusion. Over nine years of spontaneous restoration at the terminated fly ash dump of the thermoelectric power station species rich and abundant communities of ground beetles were formed. These communities differed significantly from those at the adjacent undisturbed climax ecosystems used for comparison. Species richness and dynamic density of ground beetles was shown to increase from the control sites to non-reclaimed sites and PFS-reclaimed sites. The autonomous position in the catena was found to be occupied by the less evolutionary developed embryozem type, whereas downwards along the catena, i.e. with increasing soil moisture content, identified soil types belonged to higher evolutionary order. Therefore technical recultivation with fly ash dump overlaying with potentially fertile substrate or fertile soil allow accelerating soil cover development, as well as the development of an entire biogeocenosis.

Characterization of metallic particles extracted from fly ash of a thermoelectric plant in Boyacá-Colombia

In this work, it was studied the by-products of fly ashes, obtained from a thermoelectric power station in Boyacá, Colombia, through magnetic separation. The morphological characterization of the particles was performed by a scanning electron microscopy. Its elemental composition and crystalline structure were studied through energy dispersive spectroscopy and an X-ray diffraction, respectively. The results obtained show the presence of ferrospheres and cenospheres, which are irregular and rough compounds with a high iron content. The mineralogical phases present in the samples are mainly magnetite and hematite, with some traces of mullite. These phases can provide magnetic properties and extend the range of applications of these particles using a simple separation process in fly ashes.

Application of cogeneration and trigeneration systems

The improvement in the energy efficiency of a thermoelectric power station and the implementation of cogeneration and trigeneration plants have great potential to mitigate the effects of energy consumption and its impact on the global problem of climate change. Public environmental policies in the Latin American context implement the use of unconventional energy sources through different mechanisms. This research identifies environmental policies focusing on the application of alternative cogeneration and trigeneration systems. To promote the application of these systems, each country presents tax incentives and the generation of programs. In Latin America, the country with the highest participation in cogeneration plants in Brazil, due to government support to eliminate barriers to the sale of surplus energy, and the strengthening of programs such as PROINFA. On the other hand, we have Chile, Peru, and Colombia, in which it shows government barriers to be able to sell the energy surpluses that are generated in cogeneration plants and so far maintain little participation in the generation of electrical energy from unconventional sources. In Colombia, it presents regulatory conditions for the electricity grid, which restricts the participation of “small energy generators.” However, in recent years, there has been greater participation in the energy matrix based on clean energy. The foregoing will allow recognizing the progress of the use of renewable energies in Colombia, specifically of the cogeneration plants, which is an estimated expansion of installed capacity of 314 MW.

ESTUDIO INTEGRAL DE LA CALIDAD DEL AGUA EN EL LITORAL DEL PUERTO SAN CARLOS, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MÉXICO

Physical, chemical and biological parameters were measured in March and November 2014. These water analyses were carried out at 22 sites on the coast of Puerto San Carlos (Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico), with the objective of assessing water quality and identifying possible sources of water pollution and its status according to Mexican regulations. The study area was divided into three zones according to its main activity: (1) thermoelectric power station, (2) fiscal port harbor and (3) San Carlos estuary, adjacent to the to the town of the same name. The measured physical, chemical and biological parameters were temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a, nutrients, dissolved trace metals, and coliform bacteria. The results showed poor water quality in the three areas studied, in accordance with NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 and the ecological criteria for water quality CE-CCA-001/89, in particular regarding phosphate, ammonium, and silicate (unregulated) concentrations, as well as the presence of Escherichia coli . The three zones are considered sources of anthropogenic contamination whose impact is greater in the warmest month and dead tides, probably due to the entry of water contaminated by anthropogenic waste derivatives. According to the sanitary authorities of the state of Baja California Sur, the certification of water quality in Magdalena Bay has been variable: it was not certified in 2014, whilst in the period 2015-2017 it was re-certified. Although this region is an important touristic and fishing site, it is at risk of contamination due to the lack of a wastewater treatment system in the town and the inadequate disposal of raw sewage from the port.

Press- Formed Composites with Alternate Wetting and Drying Resistance Based on Modified Gypsum Binder

Water resistance of natural and artificial building materials is usually estimated by the softening coefficient. However, in the course of operation, materials, for example, for building enclosing structures, are rarely subjected to complete dewatering or water saturation. Therefore, one of the most important criteria for the durability of such products is their resistance to atmospheric influences (alternate wetting and drying resistance). In the present work, the possibility of increasing the alternate wetting and drying resistance of press-formed composites based on a modified gypsum binder is studied. We have developed a complex modifier of the gypsum binder and the structure of the resulting pressed composites, consisting of carbonate-containing slime of chemical water purification of thermoelectric power station and monoammonium phosphate. We studied the effect of the modifier on changes in the compressive strength of pressed composites in the dried and water-saturated state, softening and atmospheric durability coefficients, as well as linear deformations of control samples after a set number of cycles of alternating wetting and drying. We found that press-formed composites based on a modified gypsum binder are highly resistant to alternating wetting and drying. The complex modifier provides the formation of a more solid and monolithic structure of fine-crystalline calcium sulfate dihydrate, additionally reinforced with a hardly soluble phosphate-carbonate framework. The proposed method of modifying the gypsum binder prevents loosening of the structure of the press-formed stone-like material made from it under alternating stresses, reduces linear deformations and, as a result, slows down its fatigue failure. The technical characteristics of the obtained materials are sufficient for their use, in particular, in building enclosing structures.

Taxonomic diversity of bacterial assemblage in technosol of the revegetating fly ash dump

Background. The aim of the study was to assess the composition and structure of bacterial assemblages by estimating 16S rRNA gene sequences diversity in a young Technosol, developing on a revegetating fly ash dump. Location and place of the study. Two soils were chosen for the study in the environs of the thermoelectric power station No.5 in Novosibirsk region: 1) nine years old Technosol (54°59' NL, 83°03' EL), developing on the spontaneously revegetating fly ash dump, and 2) Phaeozem under undisturbed white birch forest (55°00' NL, 83°04' EL). Soils were sampled from the 0-5 cm layer as three individual replicates each. Materials and methods. The total DNA extracted from soil samples was used as a matrix for PCR amplification using V-3-V4 primers for 16S rRNA genes. The obtained amplicons were sequenced on Illumina MiSeq platform in the Genomics Core Facility of the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS (Novosibirsk, Russia). Descriptive statistics and principal components analysis were used to analyze and present the data. Results. Overall 4887 different operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were found at the 97% similarity level; the OTUs were ascribed to 306 genera, 212 families, 123 orders, 84 classes and 32 phyla of bacteria domain. At the phylum level bacterial assemblages in both soils were dominated by Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria, showing rather similar outline of the phyla relative abundance, confirming the direction of pedogenesis towards Phaeozem. Higher abundance of Chloroflexi a physiologically diverse phyla with aerobic and anaerobic thermophiles, anoxigenic phototrophs and anaerobes, able to respire organic halides, in the young Technosol complies with harsh edaphic conditions there. Although the relative abundance of Rhizobiales, Actinomycetales and unclassified Acidobacteria_Gp6 and Acidobacteria_Gp3 was found to be 1.5–2.4 times higher in the undisturbed Phaeozem, they also were predominating in the Technosol samples. The α-biodiversity indices, pertaining mostly to species/OTUs richness, i.e. Chao-1, OTUs number, Margalef, Fisher’s alpha, were higher in Phaeozem, whereas evenness and equitability were higher in Technosol. Both soils demonstrated similar Shanno indices, which were rather high (6.3). Conclusions. Nine years of spontaneous revegetation on the terminated fly ash dump of the thermoelectric power station resulted in the development of the Technosol, containing quite rich and diverse bacterial assemblage, which was rather close in structure at the phylum taxonomic level to the adjacent undisturbed Phaeozem. Overall the early stages of pedogenesis were dominated by specific bacterial assemblage (Chloroflexi, Xanthomonadales, Geobacter, Aciditerrimonas, Iamiaceae and some others), performing weathering of the pedogenic substrate, i.e. fly ash. The present of nitrificators (Nitrospira), denitrificators денитрификаторов (Reyranella) together with diazotrophs (Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobiales) dominance evidences the establishment of the entire network of nitrogen transformation process already at the early stages of revegetation of the fly ash dump. Large percentage (17%) of Bacteria, the information about which ribosomal gene sequences is most likely absent in the respective data bases necessitates more detailed research into the soil microbiome on fly ash dumps.

Nodi da sciogliere nello spazio dei flussi. Vita nei territori delle centrali elettriche del progetto Futur-e

This article proposes the observation of some territories which have not yet been fully investigated by urban studies, in particular those of the thermoelectric power stations involved in enel Futur-e project aimed at promoting the reuse of dismissed sites. Further elaborating the reports already provided by the research group of Politecnico di Milano in the frame of this project, the article reflects on the nature of the territories of power stations. This reflection is based on the observations and the notes taken during the field visits, and is supported by both theoretical references and empirical material, such as interviews. In conclusion, the article poses some questions on the topic of memory and on the way of transforming the knowledge built on the field into a heritage for the Futur-e project, and beyond.

Landscapes and architecture of thermoelectric power stations in Italy

L’articolo tratta di alcune centrali termoelettriche dismesse o in via di dismissione presenti in Italia e coinvolte nel progetto Futur-e di enel, proponendo descrizioni e riflessioni a diverse scale, utili per affrontare questi ‘spazi tecnici’ da un punto vista progettuale. L’articolo mostra come le centrali termoelettriche siano spesso parte sia di una rete globale di flussi di combustibili, sia di quello che, nell’ambito del concetto di ‘planetary urbanization’, viene definito come ‘operational landscape’. Alla scala locale, il testo evidenzia come alcune centrali possano influenzare il proprio contesto, generando un ‘paesaggio’. Infine, vengono descritti gli spazi ricorrenti e le strutture che caratterizzano le centrali, nonche gli ambienti inaspettati, quali aree riconquistate dalla natura o talvolta siti archeologici, che possono essere trovati all’interno dei loro confini.

Heat Power Equipment Sample Tests Using Time-Series Techniques

The article is concerned with the problem of planning of the amount of sample tests of heat power equipment components using time-series techniques. In the operation process of thermoelectric power stations (TPS) their expensive components (turbines, bearings, oil systems, generators, transformers, pipelines etc.) require securing of preset level of reliability and safety. For achievement of this aim it is necessary to develop corresponding plan of sample tests. Peculiarity of heat power equipment components is that they are devices consisting of elements’ totality of mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electronic and other types. The basis of the proposed sample tests amount planning technique is the condition of test sample restorability after failure through improvements. In this case, the risk of developer (supplier) is assumed to be close to zero (α = 0). Improvement will be considered effective if carried out tests are successful in the same amount after improvement. Novelty of the proposed test amount planning technique for one preset level of reliability allows getting required output characteristics of heat power equipment in shorter period.

Ecological Potential of Plants for Phytoremediation and Ecorestoration of Fly Ash Deposits and Mine Wastes

Fly ash generates as the result of coal combustion in thermoelectric power stations whereas ore mining activities produce mine waste-rock and tailings worldwide. High concentrations of metal(loid)s and organic pollutants in fly ash and mine wastes are released into soil, air and water presenting a global threat to the surrounding environment and human health. The environmentally sound management of fly ash and mine waste–rock and tailings includes monitoring stability of the dam construction and seepage flowrate, prevention of water erosion and dust spreading, reducing the footprint of the management facilities and successful restoration / revegetation. Harsh conditions prevailing on fly ash and mine deposits are unfavorable mechanical composition and pH, high concentrations of soluble salts, lack of nitrogen and phosphorous, reduced number of microorganisms and fungus, toxic concentrations of As, Au, Ag, B, Cu, Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Zn and the presence of PAHs and PCBs. The review addresses phystostabilization, phytoextraction, rhizodegradation and phytodegradation as main phytoremediation green technologies which use plants to clean up the contaminated area to safe levels. Establishment of the self–sustaining vegetative cover on fly ash and mine deposits is crucial for recovering ecosystem health, stability and resilience. Therefore, here we have discussed the essential role of native plants in the ecorestoration process on waste deposits. Additional emphasis is given to the evaluation of plant adaptive response to pollution stress. This review presents a current knowledge in phytomanagement of fly ash deposits, mine waste-rock and tailings. Also, it provides a new frontier in restoration physiology where physiological and biochemical tools can be used to predict plant response to stressors and success of restoration projects.