WE have seen pH of 2.8-3.2 in similar appllcations - Cu-Ni heat exchangers and careful electrical grounding are requied but make the mine water source very practical
Acid mine waters, often containing toxic concentrations of Fe, Al, Cu,
Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Co, and Cr, can be produced from the mining of coal
and metallic deposits. Values of pH for acid mine waters can range
from –3.5 to 5, but even circumneutral (pH ≈ 7) mine waters can have high
concentrations of As, Sb, Mo, U, and F. When mine waters are discharged into streams, lakes, and the oceans, serious degradation of water quality and injury to aquatic life can ensue, especially when tailings impoundments break suddenly.
Best Regards
pH of mine waters is varied, depending on the conditions of the environment.
In Poland, local study focused on the abandoned but continuously dewatered Szombierki coal mine and the adjacent Bolko Zn–Pb mine in Bytom (Silesia Region) shows a different specifics. In Bytom, within the pumping system, the pH of water is quickly neutralized, due to the influence of Na, K, etc., so in places of possible intake, the pH is only slightly acidic and even neutral.
Results from the monthly monitoring program of hydrochemistry, physiochemistry (T, conductivity, pH) and stable isotopes (H, O and S), conducted within LoCAL project, revealed relatively high temperature and stable chemistry parameters of mine water from the Szombierki pumping system. Mine water inflows to levels and mixed pumped water at the surface generally typified of slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.88–7.76) and low concentrations of total iron (maximum value measured on level 510 m — 3.3 mg Fetot/L), very low zinc and lead concentrations (0.39 mg Zn/L, 0.27 mg Pb/L).
More specific information you can find in my colleagues’ publication: Janson et.al., “Preliminary investigation on temperature, chemistry and isotopes of mine water pumped in Bytom geological basin (USCB Poland) as a potential geothermal energy source” – available here at ResearchGate or on https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2016.06.007
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Biochemistry
- Biochemical Techniques
- Analytical Chemistry
- pH