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Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-90). Also available via the Internet.

Acid rock drainage (ARD) is recognised as one of the most serious environmental issues currently facing the mining industry. ARD management strategies rely heavily on the ability to measure the ARD potential of waste materials to ensure strategies are appropriate to the ARD risks. It is apparent that improvements to the understanding of ARD test methods and development of methods to better represent the ARD potential of samples will contribute significantly to the value and reliability of ARD assessment. The research described in this thesis focused on critical assessment and improvement of: ARD test methodology; approach to testing; and interpretation of results for coal mine wastes. Kaltim Prima Coal Mine (KPC) in Kalimantan, Indonesia was selected as a case study site to help focus the research, with the understanding that the broad similarities of coal sequences in general would allow broader application of the findings. / Thesis (PhDApSc(MineralsandMaterials))--University of South Australia, 2005

Acid rock drainage (ARD) is recognised as one of the most serious environmental issues currently facing the mining industry. ARD management strategies rely heavily on the ability to measure the ARD potential of waste materials to ensure strategies are appropriate to the ARD risks. It is apparent that improvements to the understanding of ARD test methods and development of methods to better represent the ARD potential of samples will contribute significantly to the value and reliability of ARD assessment. The research described in this thesis focused on critical assessment and improvement of: ARD test methodology; approach to testing; and interpretation of results for coal mine wastes. Kaltim Prima Coal Mine (KPC) in Kalimantan, Indonesia was selected as a case study site to help focus the research, with the understanding that the broad similarities of coal sequences in general would allow broader application of the findings. / Thesis (PhDApSc(MineralsandMaterials))--University of South Australia, 2005.

Acid rock drainage (ARD) is recognised as one of the most serious environmental issues currently facing the mining industry. ARD management strategies rely heavily on the ability to measure the ARD potential of waste materials to ensure strategies are appropriate to the ARD risks. It is apparent that improvements to the understanding of ARD test methods and development of methods to better represent the ARD potential of samples will contribute significantly to the value and reliability of ARD assessment. The research described in this thesis focused on critical assessment and improvement of: ARD test methodology; approach to testing; and interpretation of results for coal mine wastes. Kaltim Prima Coal Mine (KPC) in Kalimantan, Indonesia was selected as a case study site to help focus the research, with the understanding that the broad similarities of coal sequences in general would allow broader application of the findings. / Thesis (PhDApSc(MineralsandMaterials))--University of South Australia, 2005

Acid rock drainage (ARD) is recognised as one of the most serious environmental issues currently facing the mining industry. ARD management strategies rely heavily on the ability to measure the ARD potential of waste materials to ensure strategies are appropriate to the ARD risks. It is apparent that improvements to the understanding of ARD test methods and development of methods to better represent the ARD potential of samples will contribute significantly to the value and reliability of ARD assessment. The research described in this thesis focused on critical assessment and improvement of: ARD test methodology; approach to testing; and interpretation of results for coal mine wastes. Kaltim Prima Coal Mine (KPC) in Kalimantan, Indonesia was selected as a case study site to help focus the research, with the understanding that the broad similarities of coal sequences in general would allow broader application of the findings. / Thesis (PhDApSc(MineralsandMaterials))--University of South Australia, 2005

Thesis (MA (Hons.)) -- University of Western Sydney, Nepean, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

The South African coal industry produces a large quantity of coal per annum. The rejects from various unit operations, such as spirals, consist of fine coal that joins the plants tailings dam waste. As existing high quality resources become depleted, the need to improve recovery of this fine coal grows. This project investigates the use of a teetered bed separator (TBS); a hindered settling gravity concentration device for fine coal recovery. This device has proven successful in the United Kingdom and in Australian collieries for fine coal separation in the size range between 2mm and 0.3mm. It has also been used for decades as a classifying device for silica sand and tin. The TBS operates in the size range of water-only cyclones and spiral concentrators, and could potentially be used to separate a broader size range of coal fines so as to offer a lower footprint device for the fines recovery section of a plant. Spiral concentrators cannot always be operated efficiently at a separating specific gravity of lower than 1.6; a TBS may also extend the density range for separation and thus improve recovery. The objective of this project was to gain a full understanding of the TBS from fundamental particle interaction and develop a lab scale unit, which is capable of separation to about 0.1mm at optimum conditions. This involved the development of design parameters based on the various distributor plates and flow pattern modelling. The hydrodynamics of the separator were investigated using the Eulerian-Eulerian modelling approach of commercial CFD package, Fluent 6.1. Seven distributor plates of varying aperture size and geometric arrangement were considered. Coal and shale particles, sized between 2mm and 0.038mm with a specific gravity (SG) range of 1.2 to 2.0, were separated using the laboratory scale unit. The results of both the simulations and the laboratory tests were then compared. The simulations revealed that Plate 3 was the best option for implementation. It had an even upward velocity profile compared to the other plates, with minimum wall effects and disturbances. The upward water flow rate (teeter water) was varied experimentally and the composition of the teeter bed, underflow and overflow were analysed using 1.5, 2 and Smm cubic density tracers with an SG range of 1.2-2.0. Analysis of the partition curves of the distributor plates revealed that Plate 3 had the lowest Ecart Probable (Ep) and cut- point densities. The comparison of simulated results and experimental results show that the simulator could predict the distributor plate design with the lowest Ep in practical tests. The simulator could be beneficial when optimising an industrial scale unit, by allowing prediction of improved segregation patterns and thus separation efficiency. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2005.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-96). Also available via the Internet.

Low-grade coal, a poor source of energy, has long been regarded as waste material by the coal mining industry. Biological degradation of this coal material by ligninolytic fungal strains presents a viable strategy towards eliminating this unusable fossil fuel. To this end, a novel and patented bioprocess termed Fungcoal was developed. Fungcoal is a biological process utilised in the in situ treatment of waste coal and is based on the mutualistic relationship between the fungus Neosartorya fischeri and the graminaceous species Cynodon dactylon. The process facilitates the rapid conversion of waste coal into soil-like material that stimulates establishment of vegetation for eventual coal dump rehabilitation. While a number of in vitro studies have identified various fungal strains as efficient coal degraders, the mechanisms involved in the Fungcoal-stimulated degradation process have not been fully elucidated. Furthermore, implementation of Fungcoal at both pilot and commercial scale has not been achieved. Thus the objective of this work was to investigate Fungcoal as a bioprocess via examining the role of coal degrading fungi (CDF) and grasses as biocatalysts in coal biodegradation and for the self-cladding of waste coal dumps. Initially, waste coal degradation by N. fischeri, strain ECCN 84, was investigated, specifically focusing on the mechanisms underpinning the process. In vitro studies showed the addition of waste coal induced active fungal colonisation resulting in increased fungal biomass. Increased extracellular laccase (LAC) activity, occuring concomitantly with an increase in hyphal peroxisome proliferation, was also observed in the coal supplied fungal cultures. Analysis of the colonised waste coal revealed a time dependent reduction in the percentage weight of elemental carbon coupled with an increase in elemental oxygen. The results supported metabolism and degradation of waste coal by N. fischeri strain ECCN 84 and involvement of fungal extracellular laccase. The contribution of C. dactylon, a C4 grass species to in situ biodegradation of waste coal in the presence of coal degrading and mycorrhizal fungi (MF) was also investigated. Enhanced degradation of the waste coal into a humic soil-like material was observed within the rhizosphere. Analysis of the resultant substrate revealed an increased concentration of highly oxidised humic-like substances (HS). Fungi remained viable in the rhizosphere up to 47 weeks post-inoculation and cultivation of C. dactylon, indicating the resultant humic substance-rich rhizosphere provided an environment conducive for microbial proliferation and activity. Furthermore, humic substance enrichment of waste coal substrates supported germination and seedling emergence of several agronomic species including Zea mays (corn), Phaseolus vulgaris (bean), Pisum sativum (pea), and Spinacia oleracea (spinach). Use of various cladding materials to support coal biodegradation, by fungus-grass mutualism and rehabilitation of waste dumps was evaluated at commercial scale. While substantial physico-chemical changes were not evident in the absence of cladding or where waste coal was used as cladding material, successful establishment of grass cover and diversity was achieved within three hydrological cycles on dumps cladded with weathered coal. Work presented in this thesis successfully demonstrates the degradation of waste coal by N. fischeri. The biodegradation process included enhanced extracellular LAC activity coupled with increased 3 waste coal oxidation. Increased HS concentration of waste coal substrate supported germination and early seedling establishment of several agronomic species. At commercial scale a co-substrate in the form of carbon-rich weathered coal was essential to support fungus-grass mutualism and Fungcoal-induced rehabilitation. These findings support the developed Fungcoal concept and the underpinning rationale that the phyto-biodegradation of waste coal indeed depends on the mutualistic interactions between grass root exudates and the ligninolytic and mycorrhizal fungi. Taken together, these findings provide practical evidence of the contribution of fungi and grasses as mutualists in the biodegradation of waste coal and sustainable rehabilitation of waste coal dumps