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IJESD 2016 Vol.7(1): 65-68 ISSN: 2010-0264
DOI: 10.7763/IJESD.2016.V7.742
DOI: 10.7763/IJESD.2016.V7.742
Transport of Toxic Elements through Leaching in and around Ash Disposal Sites
Shivam Kapoor and R. A. Christian
Abstract—In India coal-based thermal power plants have
been a major source of power generation, where 75% of the total
power obtained is from coal-based thermal power plants. These
plants produce enormous quantity of fly ash. Many of the
elements contained in ash are possessing health or
environmental risks. In many applications, fly ash is exposed to
natural fluids, such as acid rain and groundwater. A portion of
fly ash produces by these plants is ultimately dumped in the ash
dykes in the form of slurry. This slurry contain various metal
ions out of which the ions of concern are Hg, Cr, As, Ni, Cd, Cu,
Pb, Zn, and B which may percolate down & pollute ground
water.
This study investigates the leachate potential of heavy metal for fly ash of one of the Super Thermal Power Plant in India. It also studies the impact of leaching of toxics from ash dumps to water bodies within an area falling in 10 Km radii of ash dumps. The results shows that 5-30% toxic elements (As, Cu, Pb, Mg, Al) are leached in test and around 10% of total Cd was solubilized in the acidic pH range (3 to 5). This study also observed that some heavy metals, trace elements and fluoride in ground water and surface water are present in such quantity which is not desirable in drinking water for direct use as per WHO standards. Thus the study concludes that fly ash has moderate polluting effect on ground water in area which comes under radii of 4 Km where proper treatment of water is required before utilizing it as a drinking purpose.
Index Terms—Coal, fly ash, leaching, toxic elements.
Shivam Kapoor is with Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India (e-mail: shivamkpr@yahoo.com).
R. A. Christian is with Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat, Gujarat, India (e-mail: rac@ced.svnit.ac.in).
This study investigates the leachate potential of heavy metal for fly ash of one of the Super Thermal Power Plant in India. It also studies the impact of leaching of toxics from ash dumps to water bodies within an area falling in 10 Km radii of ash dumps. The results shows that 5-30% toxic elements (As, Cu, Pb, Mg, Al) are leached in test and around 10% of total Cd was solubilized in the acidic pH range (3 to 5). This study also observed that some heavy metals, trace elements and fluoride in ground water and surface water are present in such quantity which is not desirable in drinking water for direct use as per WHO standards. Thus the study concludes that fly ash has moderate polluting effect on ground water in area which comes under radii of 4 Km where proper treatment of water is required before utilizing it as a drinking purpose.
Index Terms—Coal, fly ash, leaching, toxic elements.
Shivam Kapoor is with Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India (e-mail: shivamkpr@yahoo.com).
R. A. Christian is with Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat, Gujarat, India (e-mail: rac@ced.svnit.ac.in).
Cite: Shivam Kapoor and R. A. Christian, "Transport of Toxic Elements through Leaching in and around Ash Disposal Sites," International Journal of Environmental Science and Development vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 65-68, 2016.
