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Chemical Characteristics and Utilization of Coal Mine Drainage in China

Chemische Charakteristik und Nutzung von Abwässern des Kohlebergbaues in China

Características químicas y uso del drenaje de mina de carbon en China

中国煤矿矿井水的水化学特征与综合利用

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An Erratum to this article was published on 25 June 2014

Abstract

The growing demand for water in China’s coal-producing regions requires enhanced coal mine drainage (CMD) utilization. Mine water quality was analyzed for 269 mines distributed in 11 of China’s large coal-producing regions. We found that China’s CMD can be broadly characterized as: slightly contaminated, acidic, high salinity, high sulfate, high fluoride, and containing elevated iron and manganese. When CMD had properties of more than one category, its most distinctive characteristic was used for classification. When this was done, the chemical characteristics tended to correlate with the hydrogeological conditions of the region. Appropriate treatment technologies and pollution prevention measures based on these chemical characteristics could enhance the likelihood of mine water being used to relieve China’s water shortage crisis and promote environmental protection for China’s coal-producing regions.

Zusammenfassung

Der zunehmende Wasserbedarf in Chinas kohleproduzierenden Regionen erfordert eine Ausweitung der Nutzung von Abwässern des Kohlebergbaues. Die chemische Charakteristik des Bergbauwassers wurde für 269 Minen in 11 der größten kohleproduzierenden Regionen Chinas analysiert. Wie stellten fest, daß Chinas Kohlebergbauwässer allgemein folgend qualifiziert werden können: Gering schadstoffhaltig, sauer, hoch salinar, sulfat- und fluorhaltig, und mit erhöhten Gehalten von Eisen und Mangan. Die Klassifikation erfolgte nach dem jeweils ausgeprägtesten Merkmal, auch wenn mehr als eine Kategorie erhöht war; die derart ermittelten Charakteristika zeigten tendenziell eine Korrelation mit der hydrogeologischen Beschaffenheit der Region. Diesen chemischen Charakteristika angepasste Technologien der Wasseraufbereitung und der Vorbeugung von Kontamination könnten die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Bergbauwassernutzung erhöhen und damit Chinas Wasserversorgungskrise erleichtern; das würde gleichzeitig den Umweltschutz in Chinas kohleproduzierenden Regionen voranbringen.

Resumen

La creciente demanda de agua en las regiones productoras de carbón en China requiere mejorar la utilización del drenaje de mina de carbón (CMD). Se analizó la calidad del agua de mina de 269 minas distribuidas en 11 de las mayores regiones productoras de carbón de China. Se encontró que los CMD en China pueden ser caracterizados como: altamente contaminados, ácidos, alta salinidad, alta concentración de sulfato, alta concentración de fluoruro y altos contenidos en hierro y manganeso. En los casos donde CMD tiene propiedades que se corresponden con más de una categoría, el CMD fue clasificado acorde a su característica más distintiva. Al hacerlo de este modo, las características químicas tendieron a correlacionarse con las condiciones hidrogeológicas de la región. Tecnologías para un tratamiento apropiado y medidas de prevención de la polución basadas en esas características químicas podría aumentar la posibilidad de usar el agua de mina para aliviar la escasez de agua en China y promover la protección ambiental para regiones productoras de carbón en China.

摘要

中国煤炭生产地区日益增大的用水需求对提高矿井水(CMD)利用率提出了更高要求。本文分析了中国11个产煤区内269个煤矿的矿井水水质资料。中国煤矿矿井水大致分为6种类型:轻微污染的、酸性的、高矿化度的、高硫酸盐的、高氟的和高铁-锰的。当矿井水可以被划分为多种类型时,一般以其最显著特征作为划分依据。中国矿井水水质类型的差异主要取决于煤矿的水文地质条件。根据水质差异合理选择矿井水处理工艺,可以提高矿井水利用率,缓解煤矿区水资源压力。.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge financial support from both the Chinese Public Welfare Research Funds for Environmental Protection Industry (201109011) and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD). We also express our sincere gratitude to Drs. Ping Lu, Yan Zhang, Yue Sun, Pei Liu, and Xin Wang for their instruction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Qiyan Feng, Ting Li, Bin Qian, Lai Zhou, Bo Gao & Tao Yuan

  2. State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Ting Li & Lai Zhou

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  1. Qiyan Feng
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Correspondence to Qiyan Feng.

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Feng, Q., Li, T., Qian, B. et al. Chemical Characteristics and Utilization of Coal Mine Drainage in China. Mine Water Environ 33, 276–286 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-014-0271-y

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