Lithium Isotope Fingerprints in Coal and Coal Combustion Residuals from the United States

Composition and constraints of lithium isotopes in cryoconite from various remote glacier areas of the Tibetan Plateau

Lithium isotope is one of the most promising indicators for the study of continental silicate weathering, and lithium concentrations and its isotopic compositions in earth surface can provide a better understanding of the geochemical behavior and isotopic fractionation during weathering and erosion. This work focused on the composition and distribution of Li isotope in cryoconite deposited on various glacier areas in a large range of the Tibetan Plateau and surroundings, as well as its implications for cryoconite dust provenances. Results showed that δ7Li in cryoconite varied within the same order of magnitude (-2.14 ‰-7.74 ‰), which is characterized by geographic distribution of higher δ7Li value of cryoconite in northern glaciers (e.g. Yuzhufeng Glacier), and lower δ7Li value in southern glaciers. In comparison with other global materials, the cryoconite dust shows a lighter δ7Li isotopic composition due to constraints of climatic conditions and land surface weathering intensity. Compared with dust materials in the surrounding Asian dust sources (e.g. large deserts and Gobi), we find that, the primary sources of Li isotope in cryoconite of the northern locations were from both local dust/soils of the TP surface and the surrounding large deserts. Moreover, the products of anthropogenic activities (e.g. coal-burning) may also influence the isotopic composition of the cryoconite dust, and Li isotope may serve as potential tracers of anthropogenic source activities. Therefore, this work provides a complete view of the composition and distribution of Lithium isotopes in cryoconite from various glacier areas of the Tibetan Plateau, and the research significance of its transport processes and source constraints of Li isotopes in cryoconite is proposed.

Environmental Impacts of Coal Combustion Residuals: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives

On-site solid-waste impoundments, landfills, and receiving water bodies have served as long-term disposal sites for coal combustion residuals (CCRs) across the United States for decades and collectively contain billions of tons of CCR material. CCR components include fine particulate material, minerals, and trace elements such as mercury, arsenic, selenium, lead, etc., which can have deleterious effects on ecosystem functioning and public health. Effects on communities can occur through consumption of drinking water, fish, and other aquatic organisms. The structural failure of impoundments, water infiltration, leakage from impoundments due to poor construction and monitoring, and CCR effluent discharges to water bodies have in the past resulted in harmful environmental impacts. Moreover, the risks posed by CCRs are present to this day, as coal continues to account for 11% of the energy production in the United States. In this Critical Review, the legacy of CCR disposal and the concomitant risks posed to public health and ecosystems are assessed. The resiliency of CCR disposal sites in the context of increased frequency and intensity of storm events and other hazards, such as floods and earthquakes, is also evaluated. We discuss the current state of knowledge on the environmental fate of CCR-derived elements, as well as advances in and limitations of analytical tools, which can improve the current understanding of CCR environmental impacts in order to mitigate the associated risks. An assessment of the 2015 Coal Ash Final Rule is also presented, along with needs to improve monitoring of CCR disposal sites and regulatory enforcement.

Environmental damage caused by coal combustion residue disposal: A critical review of risk assessment methodologies

Coal combustion generates almost 40% of world's electricity. However, it also produces 1.1 billion tons of coal combustion residues (CCR) annually, half of which end up in landfills. Although current regulations require proper lining and monitoring programs, the ubiquitous old, abandoned landfills are often not lined nor included in these programs. In addition, the total number of coal ash disposal sites and their status in the world is unknown. Therefore, this article reviews the environmental damage caused by CCR and three commonly used risk assessment methodologies: leaching assessment, groundwater assessment, and toxicity testing. Leaching methods are usually the first step in coal ash risk assessment, however, a large number of methods with different parameters make a comparison of data difficult. Groundwater pollution is commonly detected near coal ash disposal sites, but other anthropogenic activities may also exist nearby. Therefore, multivariate statistical methods and isotope traces should be used to differentiate between different sources of pollution. So far, both stable (δ¹⁸O, δD, δ¹¹B, δ³⁴S, δ⁷Li) and radiogenic (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb) isotopes have been successfully used as coal ash pollution tracers. Coal ash also negatively affects biota, reduces the diversity of organisms, affects children's health, and increases the risk for developing various diseases. Toxicity studies are great for early screening of coal ash safety; however, they provide no insights into mechanisms causing the adverse effects. Future directions are also proposed, such as the development of new 'low-level' detection methods for coal ash pollution and sustainable and selective method for recovery of critical elements.

Determination of Lead Elemental Concentration and Isotopic Ratios in Coal Ash and Coal Fly Ash Reference Materials Using Isotope Dilution Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry

The rapid expansion of coal-fired power plants around the world has produced a huge volume of toxic elements associated with combustion residues such as coal fly ash (CFA) and coal ash (CA), which pose great threats to the global environment. It is therefore crucial for environmental science to monitor the migration and emission pathway of toxic elements such as CFA and CA. Lead isotopes have proved to be powerful tracers capable of dealing with this issue. Unfortunately, up to now, few high precision lead isotope data of CFA and CA certified reference materials (CRMs) determined by using the double spike technique have been reported. Hence, to facilitate the application of lead isotopes in environmental science, it is indispensable and urgent to determine a suite of high precision Pb isotope ratios and Pb elemental contents for CFA and CA CRMs. Here, we measured lead isotope ratios from four CFA and CA CRMs using thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) combined with the 204Pb-207Pb double spike method. Lead isotope ratios values of CRMs (GBW11124, GBW08401, GBW11125d, and JCFA-1) covered wide variation ranges from 17.993 to 19.228 for 206Pb/204Pb, from 15.513 to 15.675 for 207Pb/204Pb, and from 38.184 to 39.067 for 208Pb/204Pb. Lead isotope ratios of these CRMs, except for GBW11124, show good external reproducibility (2 RSD, n = 8), which is better than 0.05% for 206Pb/204Pb and 207Pb/204Pb, 0.07% for 208Pb/204Pb, 0.04% for 206Pb/207Pb, and 0.05% for 208Pb/206Pb. The Pb concentrations of these CRMs were determined using 207Pb single spike method. The reproducibility (1 RSD, n = 4) of Pb elemental content was <0.60%. This indicates the distribution of Pb elements in these CRMs is homogeneous. With the exception of GBW11124, the suite of CRMs can be used for determining CFA and CA matrix composition for quality control of Pb isotope analyses.

Possible applications of coal fly ash in wastewater treatment

Management of coal fly ash as a particulate byproduct of coal burning has become an issue to be solved right away due to environmental concerns related to soil, water, and air pollution. Many attempts have been made by researchers for the conversion of coal fly ash into useful products while searching feasible avenues for its sustainable utilization. Wastewater remediation using coal fly ash is one such attempt solving both waste management and water quality issues. The characteristics like morphology, surface area, porosity, and chemical composition (silica, alumina, iron oxide, titania, etc.) make coal fly ash amenable material for potential application in wastewater treatment. Few reports have summarized the coal fly ash utilization in wastewater treatment but solely discussed the adsorption. Besides adsorption, the current paper aims to highlight the possibilities of using coal fly ash in wastewater treatment by different technologies that extend the utilization scope in the domains of filtration, Fenton process, photocatalysis, and coagulation. The promising use of coal fly ash as an adsorbent, membrane filter, Fenton catalyst, photocatalyst, and as an integral part of these structures is reviewed. Finally, the current trends and future prospects on utilization modes of coal fly ash in wastewater treatment are stated.

Evidence for Coal Ash Ponds Leaking in the Southeastern United States

Coal combustion residuals (CCRs), the largest industrial waste in the United States, are mainly stored in surface impoundments and landfills. Here, we examine the geochemistry of seeps and surface water from seven sites and shallow groundwater from 15 sites in five states (Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia, and North Carolina) to evaluate possible leaking from coal ash ponds. The assessment for groundwater impacts at the 14 sites in North Carolina was based on state-archived monitoring well data. Boron and strontium exceeded background values of 100 and 150 μg/L, respectively, at all sites, and the high concentrations were associated with low δ(11)B (-9‰ to +8‰) and radiogenic (87)Sr/(86)Sr (0.7070 to 0.7120) isotopic fingerprints that are characteristic of coal ash at all but one site. Concentrations of CCR contaminants, including SO4, Ca, Mn, Fe, Se, As, Mo, and V above background levels, were also identified at all sites, but contamination levels above drinking water and ecological standards were observed in 10 out of 24 samples of impacted surface water. Out of 165 monitoring wells, 65 were impacted with high B levels and 49 had high CCR-contaminant levels. Distinct isotope fingerprints, combined with elevated levels of CCR tracers, provide strong evidence for the leaking of coal ash ponds to adjacent surface water and shallow groundwater. Given the large number of coal ash impoundments throughout the United States, the systematic evidence for leaking of coal ash ponds shown in this study highlights potential environmental risks from unlined coal ash ponds.