Acid drainage, resulting from sulfide oxidation, is an environmental problem which may impair soil and water sources quality. Such impact may occur in several environments, but it is commonly related to coal mining. This work was carried out to study the kinetics of pyrite oxidation in coal mining spoil from Candiota (RS) Brazil, under different conditions of atmospheric O2 access and pH. The study aimed to evaluate the possibility of adjusting carbonate dissolution rate to the sulfide oxidation rate in the spoil. The experimental units consisted of leaching flasks containing 100g of spoil with increasing CaCO3 doses and compaction levels. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized factorial design 4x4 (4 doses of CaCO3 and 4 compaction levels), with three replications. The flasks were submitted to periodic leachings with 50mL of distilled water each two weeks, during eight months. The percolating solutions were analyzed for pH, S and Fe contents. Liming and compaction were found to affect the oxidation kinetics of the sulfides in the coal mining spoil. As compaction increased, it favored carbonate dissolution, increasing pH, as well as delaying sulfide oxidation, decreasing the sulfate and iron contents in the drainage water.
Acid drainage; sulfides; compaction; liming