Effects of water-coal interactions on coal mine water quality in China: a lixiviation experiment and actual water quality investigation

Water-coal interactions are dominant factors that affect water quality in coal mines. Using lixiviation, the effects of water-coal interactions on pH, salinity, and hazardous elemental enrichment in coal mine water and associated trends were simulated and analyzed. The salinity and hazardous element contents were low in the alkaline solution filtrate. However, the salinity and contents of hazardous elements (As, Cr, Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, Ni, Cd, Pb, U, and Be) in acid solution filtrate increased significantly with a decrease in pH. The pH of the solution filtrate was affected by the mineral composition of the coal, wherein the pyrite content could generally determine the pH. In addition, the spatial distribution and utilization potential of coal mine water quality in China was determined based on water quality data surveys. For water-deficient regions in northern China, particularly in the northwest, the local mine water had high salinity, a high pH, and a low content of hazardous elements; therefore, the reuse of mine water for water consumption is feasible. Conversely, the mine water in the southwest region had high salinity and a low pH and was enriched in harmful elements with potential ecological and health risks. The actual water quality characteristics of the coal mine water matched the results of the laboratory simulation analysis, confirming the effect from water-coal interactions. This work provides a reference for understanding the determinants of coal mine water quality and the potential for water environment protection.