Research

This research is being conducted under the leadership of Lee Daniels (Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences). The research purpose is to characterize a range of coal combustion products for properties influencing their potential for reuse and disposal in mined land environments.

The first phase of this research took place between 1992 and 1997. A major focus of this research was the co-blending of alkaline ash with acidic refuse as a means of eliminating acid mine drainage production by refuse fills. The research concluded that this practice could be effective over the long term only if the amount of alkalinity in the ash is sufficient to offset the acidity in the refuse. If the ash contains insufficient alkalinity, and the refuse-ash mixture turns acidic, metals can be released in drainage by both the refuse and the ash materials. These results are summarized in Virginia Cooperative Extension publication 460-134, entitled The Potential for Beneficial Reuse of Coal Fly Ash in Southwest Virginia Mining Environments.  The research also evaluated the potential to use ash as a soil amendment to improve the revegetation potentials of acidic soils.

Dr. Daniels renewed this research emphasis in 2004. The properties of coal combustion products are affected by air-pollution control technologies utilized by coal-burning utilities. In response to changing air-quality control requirements of the late 1990s and early 2000s, selective catalytic reduction is now being employed by many coal-burning plants to limit nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, use of desulferization scrubbers to reduce sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions is expanding, and regulations to require mercury emissions control have been implemented. All of these technologies change the character of the ashes and other coal combustion products that are produced by electric utilities. Dr. Daniels is conducting this work in partnership with electrical generators that purchase of Virginia coal. He is conducting an intensive chemical characterization study of all elements of current environmental/water quality concern in a large (10 to 15) representative sample set of CCP’s  generated from Virginia coals.  Activities include sequential fractionations, geochemical modeling, column leaching studies, and greenhouse plant growth bioassays.

Powell River Project coal refuse revegetation guidelines are described in Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication 460-131,  entitled "Reclamation of Coal Refuse Disposal Areas."

Publications

Beck, M., W.L. Daniels, M. Eick. 2007. Properties and Potential Water Quality Effects of Post-2000 Coal Combustion Products. In: 2007 Powell River Project Research and Education Program Reports.

Daniels, W.L. 2005. Effects of cover soil thickness on revegetation of acidic Applachian Coal Refuse. p. 255-265, in: Proceedings, 2005 National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation.

Daniels, W.L., Mike Beck, and Matt Eick. 2005. Properties and potential water quality effects of post-2000 coal combustion products. In: 2005 Powell River Project Research and Education Program Reports.

Daniels, W.L., Mike Beck, and Matt Eick. 2004.  Properties and potential water quality effects of Post-2000 coal combustion products.  In: 2004 Powell River Project Research and Education Program Reports.

Daniels. W.L., B. Stewart, K. Haering, and C. Zipper. 2001. The potential for beneficial reuse of coal fly ash in southwest Virginia mining environments. Virginia Cooperative Extension publication 460-134. 18 pages. 

Stewart, B.R. W.L. Daniels, L.W. Zelazny, and M.L. Jackson. 2001. Evaluation of leachates from coal refuse blended with fly ash at different rates. Journal of Environmental Quality 30(4): 1382-1391.

Daniels, W.L., R. Li, and B.R. Stewart. 2000. Influence of liming and topsoil thickness on vegetative growth and leachign potential of acid coal refuse. Transactions, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. 308:25-31.

Daniels, W. L., M. Beck, and B. R. Stewart.  1999. Loading rate guidance for coal fly ash as a soil amendment in Virginia.  P. 10-1 - 10-13.  In: Int. Symp. On Use and Mgt. Of Coal Combustion Products (CCP-s).  Jan. 11-15, 1999.  Orlando Elec. Power Res. Inst. TR-111829 VI, EPRI, Palo Alto, CA.

Daniels, W. L., R. S. Li, and B. R. Stewart.  1999.  Influence of liming and topsoil thickness on vegetative growth and leaching potential of acid coal refuse.  Preprint 99-11.  8 p. Society of Mining Engineers (SME) Annual Meeting, March 1-3, 1999.  Denver, SME-AIME, Littleton, CO.

Li, R.S., W.L. Daniels, and B. Stewart. 1998. Influence of liming and topsoil thickness on vegetative growth and leachate quality of acidic coal refuse. p.323-337, In: Proceedings, 15^th Annual National Meeting of the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation.

Li., R.S. and W.L. Daniels. 1997. Reclamation of coal refuse with a papermill sludge amendment. p. 277-290, in: Brandt, J.E. (ed). Proceedings of the 1997 Annual Meeting, American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation. Austin, Texas. May 10-15.

Stewart, Barry R., W.L. Daniels, and M.L. Jackson. 1997 . Evaluation of leachate quality from codisposal of fly ash and coal refuse. Journal of Environmental Quality 26(5):1417-1424.

Stewart, B.R., W.L. Daniels, and L/W. Zelazny. 1997. Examination of solid phase materials from column leaching studies of coal refuse / coal fly ash bulk blends. In: Proceedings, 1997 National Meeting of the Society of Mining Engineers.

Daniels, W.L., B. Stewart, D. Dove. 1996. Reclamation of Coal Refuse Disposal Areas. Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication 460-131.

Stewart, Barry, 1995. The Influence of Fly Ash Additions on Acid Mine Drainage Production from Coarse Coal Refuse. Ph.D. Dissertation Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences.

Stewart, B.R., and W.L. Daniels. 1995. Leachate quality and plant growth from bulk-blended fly ash/coal refuse mixtures. Field study results. p. 3.1 - 3.10, in: Proceeding, 11th International Symposium on Use and Management of Coal Combustion Byproducts. American Coal Ash Association. Orlando, Florida.

Stewart, B.R., and W.L. Daniels. 1995. The impacts of coal refuse bulk-blends on water quality and plant growth. p. 105-116, in: Proceedings, 12th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation.

Albuquerque, Allwyn. 1994. Geoenvironmental Aspects of Coal Refuse - Fly Ash Blends. M.S. Thesis, Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Jackson, M.L., B.R. Stewart, and W.L. Daniels. 1994. Acid mine drainage mitigation using bulk-blended fly ash / coal refuse mixtures: Column study results. p. 34-39, in: Proceedings, Eleventh Annual Pittsburgh Coal Conference. Center for Energy Research, University of Pittsburgh.

Stewart, B.R., and W.L. Daniels. 1994. Leachate quality and plant growth from bulk-blended fly ash / coal refuse mixtures: Field study results. p. 3.1 - 3.10, In: Proceedings, 11th International Symposium on Use and Management of Coal Combustion By-Products. American Coal Ash Association. Alexandria, Virginia.

Daniels, W.L., B.R. Stewart, and M.L. Jackson. 1993. Utilization of fly ash to prevent acid mine drainage from coal refuse . Proceedings, Tenth Annual Ash Use Symposium, p. 22-31.

Jackson, M. L. 1993. Influence of Fly Ash and Other Treatments on Acid Mine Drainage from Coal Refuse. M.S. Thesis, Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences.

Jackson, M. L., B. R. Stewart, and W. L. Daniels. 1993. Acid Mine Drainage Mitigation Using Bulk Blended Fly Ash/Coal Refuse Mixtures: Column Study Results. Proceedings, Tenth International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, University of Pittsburgh, pp. 34-39.

Jackson, M. L., B. R. Stewart, and W. L. Daniels. 1993. Influence of Fly Ash, Lime, and Rock-P on Acid Mine Drainage from Coal Refuse. Proceedings, 1993 National Meeting of the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation, pp. 266-276.

Haering, Kathryn C., and W.L. Daniels. 1991. Fly ash as an amendment for mined land reclamation: A literature review. Virginia Coal and Energy Journal 3:33-46.