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Gandy, C, Burke, I, Byrne, P, Cooper, N, Crane, R, Hudson-Edwards, K, Mayes, W, Onnis, P, Riley, A and Jarvis, A (2025) Spatial variability of metal(loid) leaching from coastal colliery wastes under freshwater and saline water conditions. Journal of Environmental Management, 376. pp. 1-11. ISSN 0301-4797
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Spatial variability of metal loid leaching from coastal colliery wastes under freshwater and saline water conditions.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (6MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Historical disposal of coal mine wastes in the coastal zone has left a significant environmental pollution legacy. Climate change is increasing the likelihood that erosion of these wastes will lead to release of metal(loid)s to coastal environments. Whilst previous research has focussed on the generation of acidic, metal-rich waters from coal mine wastes in freshwater environments, a comprehensive investigation of metal(loid) leaching from such wastes in the coastal zone has not been undertaken. This study investigated the leaching behaviour of coal mine wastes under freshwater and saline conditions and determined the impacts of spatial heterogeneity of waste composition on such behaviour. The degree of leaching varied considerably within and between sites due to the heterogenous nature of the waste. Leachate pH varied from 1.80 to 6.99 with acidic leachates particularly enriched in Fe (≤17,000 mg/kg dry waste) and sulfate (≤48,000 mg/kg dry waste) due to dissolution of acid sulfate phases. Dissolution of Fe and Mn oxides, hydroxides and oxyhydroxides also led to release of surface adsorbed metal(loid)s such as As (≤21 mg/kg dry waste), Zn (≤86 mg/kg dry waste) and Cu (≤14 mg/kg dry waste). Adsorption of As to high surface area minerals was confirmed by X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) analysis. Metal(loid) release was typically lower in the presence of seawater than deionised water due to the greater pH buffering capacity of seawater. This research provides an insight into the considerable challenges faced by coastal managers globally as they seek to mitigate the risks from such legacy pollution.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Coal mine waste; Coastal erosion; Leaching; Legacy wastes; Pollution; metal(loid)s; 37 Earth Sciences; 41 Environmental Sciences; 3703 Geochemistry; 4104 Environmental Management; 14 Life Below Water; Environmental Sciences |
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences |
| Divisions: | Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19) |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| SWORD Depositor: | A Symplectic |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Mar 2025 17:29 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Mar 2025 17:30 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124489 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/25770 |
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