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Alkalinity, temporary (CO2) and permanent acidity: an empirical assessment of the significance of field and laboratory determinations on mine waters

Lookup NU author(s): David Banks

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Abstract

Fifteen English mine waters have been sampled and been subject to field determinations of alkalinity, pH and 'cold' acidity. Furthermore, acidity has been re-determined following stripping with compressed N-2 gas and after boiling ('hot' field acidity). The difference between cold and hot acidity appears to reflect the temporary (CO2) acidity content of the water and is typically > 3 meq/l and reaches 15 meq/l in one case. N-2 stripping is less effective at removing CO2 from the waters, although may represent a promising technique if employed for longer durations. While hot acidity is typically of the same order of magnitude as calculated permanent (metal plus proton) acidity, a poor degree of correlation is most probably due to a failure to implement the 'hot peroxide' acidity determination (incorporating neutralization of alkalinity and active peroxide oxidation of reduced metals, in addition to boiling) which is regarded as standard practice in the USA.

Publication metadata

Author(s): McAllan J, Banks D, Beyer N, Watson I

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis

Year: 2009

Volume: 9

Issue: 4

Pages: 299-312

ISSN (print): 1467-7873

ISSN (electronic): 2041-4943

Publisher: Geological Society Publishing House

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/1467-7873/09-193

DOI: 10.1144/1467-7873/09-193

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