The effects of various gas atmospheres on the oxidation of coal mine pyrites

Experiments up to 150 days in length were conducted to study the acid production rate of coal mine pyrites under various gas atmospheres. The gas atmospheres studied were air, nitrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide. The lower limits of the oxidation process were studied by introducing small amounts of oxygen along with the inert blanketing gas and by studying the effects of deaerated versus air saturated feedwater. Acid production was proportional to the available oxygen partial pressure. The acid parameters monitored continued to change and had not completely reached a steady state by the termination of the work. The acid production of nitrogen blanketed pyrite decreased to less than 1% of that of identical columns under air atmosphere. Nitrogen and methane gases were equally effective in reducing acid production. Both of these gases were slightly more effective than carbon dioxide. A large amount of detailed experimental data is presented.