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Impact of Coal Ash from Electric Power Production on Changes in Water Quality 1
Author(s) -
Guthrie R. K.,
Davis E. M.,
Cherry D. S.,
Walton J. R.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1982.tb04542.x
Subject(s) - fly ash , environmental science , effluent , water quality , coal , settling , sulfate , coal combustion products , combustion , waste management , environmental engineering , environmental chemistry , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry , engineering , biology
Since 1972 the use of coal in the U.S. has increased much more rapidly than predicted, with much of this increased use by electric power generating plants. Residue after combustion consists primarily of inorganic materials, with the majority of chemical elements concentrated in fly ash as is sulfate. The concentration of sulfate in this ash fraction most affects the chemical and physical state of other elements when fly ash comes in contact with water by lowering the pH. In a properly constructed and operated ash settling basin, however, major water quality parameters of effluent may be improved as compared to source water. It is necessary, however, to consider the solubility or deposition in sediment of potentially toxic chemical elements from fly ash as these may affect reuse of this water, or as they may impact other parts of the aquatic environment.