The water quality characteristics of a coal slurry were found to vary widely, depending upon the coal used and the use of a corrosion inhibitor. The coal-water interactions were evaluated in a pilot-plant closed-loop coal slurry pipeline. Pulverized coal from eastern Kentucky and tap water were slurred and pumped through a 40 foot (12.2 m) pipe loop for ten days. Slurry samples were collected at 3 hours, 7 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 4 days, 7 days and 10 days from the start of a run. The samples were filtered and analyzed for 29 water quality parameters, including 15 metals. Two runs were performed without adding a corrosion inhibitor and two runs were performed with the addition of a corrosion inhibitor. The coal slurry filtrate contained high levels of sulfates, total dissolved solids, conductivity, acidity, iron, magnesium, manganese, lead and aluminum. The pH dropped initially, depending upon the percent sulfur in the dry coal and the alkalinity in the slurry, but returned to 6-7 after 10 days in the pipeline. Metal concentrations were a function of the pH, which affected solubility. Organics in the filtrate were at low levels. The addition of a corrosion inhibitor increased the concentrations of most parameters.

A complete wastewater characterization study was performed on an eastern Kentucky coal slurry after a 10-day circulation period in a 40 foot (12.2 m) pilot-scale pipeline. The resulting wastewater was settled and decanted for additional lime and alum treatability studies. Easter coal slurries were characterized by high TDS, conductivity, sulfates and iron. Significant concentrations of a number of trace metals were also found; however, organics were very low. Wastewater quality varied considerably among several experiments and was presumed to be influenced by different properties of the coal and the addition of a corrosion inhibitor. The major treatment concern was removal of high concentrations of iron, manganese, and trace metals if wastewaters were to be discharged. Lime treatment was found to effectively remove iron, magnesium, manganese and many other trace metals from coal slurry wastewaters. Alum treatment methods were considerably less effective for metals removal; however, alum was more effective in removing organics, color and turbidity. The addition of a corrosion inhibitor was found to reduce treatment removals for both lime and alum treatment. Several alternative uses were proposed for slurry wastewaters based on predicted water quality and volumes.

M.S.

M. S.