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Solubility Relationships of Zinc Associated with Acid Mine Drainage

Wyoming Water Res. Ctr., The Univ. of Wyoming, P.O. Box 3067, Laramie, WY 82071;

Patrick J. Sullivan and Jennifer L. Yelton

Div. of Environ. Chem., Western Res. Inst., P.O. Box 3395, Univ. Station, Laramie, WY.

^* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Acid mine drainage, produced from the oxidation of iron-sulfides, often contains elevated levels of dissolved Zn. To predict environmental hazards, it is important to understand the solubility relationships of Zn associated with acid mine drainage. Two eastern oil shales were leached under aerobic unsaturated environments using the humidity cell method. This study used a New Albany Shale (unweathered, 4.6% pyrite) and a Chattanooga Shale (weathered, 1.5% pyrite). The leachates from the humidity cells were filtered, and the filtrates were analyzed for total concentrations of cations and anions. From the total concentrations, ion activities were calculated, after correcting for significant solution complexes and ion pairs. The results show that the pH of the leachates decreased due to oxidation of pyrite. Furthermore, oxidation of pyrite increased the solubility of Fe³⁺ and Zn²⁺ in leachates. Above pH 7.00, the Zn²⁺ activity was supported by Zn₂SiO₄ (willemite) in equilibrium with measured H₄SiO⁰₄ activity. Below pH 5.00, Zn²⁺ activity for both shales appeared to be saturated by ZnFe₂O₄ (franklinite) in equilibrium with measured Fe³⁺ activity. The results in this study suggest that Zn²⁺ solubility in acid mine drainage, produced in an aerobic unsaturated environment, may be limited by ZnFe₂O₄ solid phase.

Contribution from the Div. of Environ. Chem., Western Res. Inst. and Wyoming Water Res. Ctr.

Received for publication December 4, 1987.

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