Harsco Mineral CSA: A Sustainable Solution to Acidic Water from Refuse Piles & Abandoned Mine Sites

© 2013 Harsco Corporation, All Rights Reserved.© 2013 Harsco Corporation, All Rights Reserved.
Harsco Engineered Environmental System
for Coal Refuse Treatment
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference
August 9th, 2013

© 2013 Harsco Corporation, All Rights Reserved.
Overview
1
 Harsco Coal Refuse Study – Third Party
 Background
 Coal Refuse Characterization
 Test Setup
 Results
 Conclusions
 Harsco Mineral CSA Briquettes

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Global Business Platforms
 The world’s largest provider of on-site, outsourced
services to the global metals industries. More than
160 sites in 30 countries. Environmentally-
responsible, mineral-based products for a range of
commercial and industrial uses
 The world’s most complete global organization for
highly engineered rental
scaffolding, shoring, concrete forming and other
access-related services. Operating at approximately
200 sites in over 40 countries
 Global railway track maintenance services and
equipment
 Energy-efficient air-cooled heat exchangers, heat
transfer equipment, and industrial grating products
METALS & MINERALS

3

Harsco EES Material
 Pennsylvania DEP approved - GP WMGR049
 Agriculture
 Mine grout
 AMD treatment
 Mine buffering agent
 Construction material
 Road base reclamation and soil stabilization
 Raw material for
 Concrete
 Asphalt
 Grout
4

Harsco EES Material
 100% Recycled Material
 Calcium/magnesium silicate
 Can sequester heavy metals
 Long-lasting
 Does not armor
 pH 12 ± .2
 Soluble Alkalinity - 1510 mg/L compared to 30mg/L for limestone
 60+% passing #100 sieve
 90% + CCE
5

Stream Restorations – Reeds Run
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Stream Restorations – McIntire Site
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Stream Restorations – Neal Run
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Stream Restorations – Jennings Environmental Center
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Coal Refuse Treatment Studies
 2009-2010 first study
 2011-2012 in-house study suggested potential for
neutralizing coal refuse.
 2012-2013 third-party study results
 Using Harsco’s calcium/magnesium silicate material to cover or
underlie coal refuse has value for new and existing piles
 Inter-mixing coal refuse and the Harsco calcium/magnesium
silicate material can eliminate acid formation
 Blending with coal refuse provides a sustainable
solution, eliminating effluent acidity, iron, aluminum, and
manganese
12

2012-2013 Third-Party Study
 Recent Study
 Test America, Pittsburgh
 Rosebud McVille coal processing plant refuse
 Three refuse columns per test
 Simulated rainfall for Western Pennsylvania
 SPLP extraction fluid #1
 40.26” average rainfall per year
 Column testing is far more rigorous than field
application
 All of the rain water passing through test material
13

Coal Refuse Characterization
 ABA Overburden and Mine Soil Analysis (G&C)
 2.32% total sulfur
 2.0 paste pH
 0 fizz intensity
 72.5 tons per thousand tons CaCO3 equivalent
 Chemistry and Mineralogy (PMET)
 XRF XRD
C 32.97% Al2Si2O5(OH)4 Kaolinite 18.8%
S 2.07% SiO2 Quartz 15.1%
Fe2O3 6.0% KAL3Si3O10(OH)2 Muscovite 12.0%
Al2O3 16.2% KFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 Jarosite 5.3%
MnO .01% Ca(SO4)•2H2O Gypsum 2.3%
CaO 1.1% CaSO4 Anhydrite .6%
MgO .4% FeS2 Pyrite .5%
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Coal Refuse Test Setup
B
l
e
n
d
e
d
Blended
Treatment
Control
48”
PVC
4”
Diameter
Filter Cloth
Not to scale
Top and/or Bottom
Treatment

Coal Refuse Test Setup

Highlighted Results were Non-Detects
* Results measured in PARTS PER BILLION

ABA vs. Harsco’s Method
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 ABA –Mine Drainage Prediction & Overburden Analysis
 Neutralization Potential
 Percent of Sulfur
 “Fizz” Testing
 ABA does not take into account
 Particle size/specific surface area
 Armoring

Harsco Mineral CSA vs. Limestone
Harsco Mineral CSA Limestone
Fines
 CCE 90% + 78 to 85%
 RNV 90 to 98% 65 to 70%
 Soluble Silicon* 113 to 114% 0 to 5%
 pH ~12.2 ~9.6
 Soluble Alkalinity 1510 mg/L 30 mg/L
*Using wollastonite as the standard
32

ABA vs. Harsco’s Method
 Harsco’s Method using Mineral CSA
 Particle size/specific surface area
 The mineralogical makeup
 Calcium Silicate
 Magnesium Silicate
 Mineral CSA contains no calcium carbonate due to high heat
(3200 degrees) of steel making process.
 Si:Fe - High silicon to iron ratio – Mineral CSA ties up some of the iron
preventing it from reacting with sulfur. This reduces pyrite formation.
 Effect of Fe - Sulfur to Iron ratio is affected – less iron (especially in
the form of pyrite) means less available sulfur for acid generation
 Mineral CSA removes the Hydrogen ions so they are not available for
other acid generation. Silicate forms mono-silicic acid not carbonic acid.
This is a much weaker acid.
33

Conclusions From Results
 Blended
 pH control with a small % of Harsco’s calcium/magnesium
silicate material
 Virtually eliminates leaching of Fe, Al, and Mn
 Significant reduction of:
 Electrical conductivity
 Total dissolved solids
 Redox potential
 Sulfate concentration
 Refuse pile benefits
 Considerable cost reduction potential
 Greatly reduced liability exposure
 Sustainable environmental solution
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B
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Systems - Currently in Use
Geomembrane
base liner
Untreated
Coal Refuse
Harsco EES
Material
Harsco EES
Material
Reactive
Reactive
Geomembrane
cover liner
Geomembrane
base liner

A Better Way
Geomembrane
cover liner
Geomembrane
base liner
Untreated
Coal Refuse
Treated
Coal Refuse
Reactive
Neutralized
From This
To Sustainability Covered with
Harsco growing
medium

Systems - Sustainability
Treated
Coal Refuse
Neutralized
 Cost-effective
 Lower risk
 Better for the environment
 Potential alternative uses of land
 Sustainable
Covered with
Harsco growing
medium

Harsco EES Value
 Reduced operating costs
 Plant and equipment
 Manpower
 Treatment materials
 Reduced environmental Impact
 100% recycled material
 No CO2 generated as with Ca(OH)2
 Enhance compliance with DEP regulations
 Champion Processing & Rosebud mining have had bond
releases
41

Harsco EES Value
 Impact costs including:
 Trusts
 Bonds
 Site preparation
 Liners
 General
 Topsoil
 Reduced risk and liability exposure
42

Harsco’s Engineered Environmental System
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Fast Acting pH Control
Environmentally Friendly
Consistent Performance
Does Not Armor
Immobilize and Detoxify Metals
Harsco EES
Precipitates Metals
Reduced Long-term
Liability Exposure
Limited pH Control
Limestone
Can Precipitate Metals
Short-Term Treatment
Armors
Reduce/Eliminate Bonds
and Trusts
Sustainable Solution
Long Lasting
Invaluable
Harsco Growing Medium
Cost reduction
exceeding several
million dollars
Reduce/Eliminate
Plant and Operating Costs
Control System Changes

Harsco Mineral CSA Briquettes
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Berkebile Run Kiski Conemaugh Valley
Conservancy
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Berkebile Run

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Berkebile Run

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Berkebile Run

Questions or Comments
51

Harsco Mineral CSA: A Sustainable Solution to Acidic Water from Refuse Piles & Abandoned Mine Sites

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