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Boron and strontium isotopic characterization of coal combustion residuals: validation of new environmental tracers.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ruhl, LS; Dwyer, GS; Hsu-Kim, H; Hower, JC; Vengosh, A
Published in: Environmental science & technology
December 2014

In the U.S., coal fired power plants produce over 136 million tons of coal combustion residuals (CCRs) annually. CCRs are enriched in toxic elements, and their leachates can have significant impacts on water quality. Here we report the boron and strontium isotopic ratios of leaching experiments on CCRs from a variety of coal sources (Appalachian, Illinois, and Powder River Basins). CCR leachates had a mostly negative δ(11)B, ranging from -17.6 to +6.3‰, and (87)Sr/(86)Sr ranging from 0.70975 to 0.71251. Additionally, we utilized these isotopic ratios for tracing CCR contaminants in different environments: (1) the 2008 Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) coal ash spill affected waters; (2) CCR effluents from power plants in Tennessee and North Carolina; (3) lakes and rivers affected by CCR effluents in North Carolina; and (4) porewater extracted from sediments in lakes affected by CCRs. The boron isotopes measured in these environments had a distinctive negative δ(11)B signature relative to background waters. In contrast (87)Sr/(86)Sr ratios in CCRs were not always exclusively different from background, limiting their use as a CCR tracer. This investigation demonstrates the validity of the combined geochemical and isotopic approach as a unique and practical identification method for delineating and evaluating the environmental impact of CCRs.

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Published In

Environmental science & technology

DOI

EISSN

1520-5851

ISSN

0013-936X

Publication Date

December 2014

Volume

48

Issue

24

Start / End Page

14790 / 14798

Related Subject Headings

  • Strontium Isotopes
  • Rivers
  • Power Plants
  • Isotopes
  • Illinois
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Coal Ash
  • Coal
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Ruhl, L. S., Dwyer, G. S., Hsu-Kim, H., Hower, J. C., & Vengosh, A. (2014). Boron and strontium isotopic characterization of coal combustion residuals: validation of new environmental tracers. Environmental Science & Technology, 48(24), 14790–14798. https://doi.org/10.1021/es503746v
Ruhl, Laura S., Gary S. Dwyer, Heileen Hsu-Kim, James C. Hower, and Avner Vengosh. “Boron and strontium isotopic characterization of coal combustion residuals: validation of new environmental tracers.Environmental Science & Technology 48, no. 24 (December 2014): 14790–98. https://doi.org/10.1021/es503746v.
Ruhl LS, Dwyer GS, Hsu-Kim H, Hower JC, Vengosh A. Boron and strontium isotopic characterization of coal combustion residuals: validation of new environmental tracers. Environmental science & technology. 2014 Dec;48(24):14790–8.
Ruhl, Laura S., et al. “Boron and strontium isotopic characterization of coal combustion residuals: validation of new environmental tracers.Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 48, no. 24, Dec. 2014, pp. 14790–98. Epmc, doi:10.1021/es503746v.
Ruhl LS, Dwyer GS, Hsu-Kim H, Hower JC, Vengosh A. Boron and strontium isotopic characterization of coal combustion residuals: validation of new environmental tracers. Environmental science & technology. 2014 Dec;48(24):14790–14798.
Journal cover image

Published In

Environmental science & technology

DOI

EISSN

1520-5851

ISSN

0013-936X

Publication Date

December 2014

Volume

48

Issue

24

Start / End Page

14790 / 14798

Related Subject Headings

  • Strontium Isotopes
  • Rivers
  • Power Plants
  • Isotopes
  • Illinois
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Coal Ash
  • Coal