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

McAllan, J., Banks, D. , Beyer, N. and Watson, I. (2009) Alkalinity, temporary (CO2) and permanent acidity: an empirical assessment of the significance of field and laboratory determinations on mine waters. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, 9(4), pp. 299-312. (doi: 10.1144/1467-7873/09-193)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

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 N2 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. N2 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.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Banks, Mr David
Authors: McAllan, J., Banks, D., Beyer, N., and Watson, I.
Subjects:Q Science > QD Chemistry
Q Science > QE Geology
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis
Publisher:Geological Society
ISSN:1467-7873
ISSN (Online):2041-4943

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record