Changes in Major and Trace Element Concentrations in Low-Rank Coal after Hydrogen Peroxide Pre-treatment: A Screening Approach Based on Enrichment Index

Yulia Jamastuti, Shofa Rijalul Haq, Rika Ernawati, Hendriono Hendriono

Abstract


Low-rank coal contains minerals and associated major and trace elements that may be mobilized during processing, particularly under pre-treatment and leaching conditions. This study aimed to characterize the major and trace elements in low-rank coal, evaluate their relative enrichment in solid residues following hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) pre-treatment, and assess the potential implications of mobile Fe and Mn for groundwater quality. Elemental concentrations before and after pre-treatment were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), while changes in elemental abundance were evaluated using an enrichment index (Δ%). The untreated coal contained a range of major and trace elements, including Fe, Mn, Yb, Er, Zn, Co, Ni, Mg, Al, Sc, Li, Na, Ga, and Ce. H₂O₂ pre-treatment altered the distribution of several elements in the solid residue, with Fe and Mn showing the most pronounced relative enrichment. These changes are likely associated with the oxidation and transformation of metal-bearing mineral phases under oxidative conditions, whereas other elements exhibited variable responses depending on their modes of occurrence and mineral associations. Leachate analysis by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) further confirmed the mobilization of Fe and Mn into the aqueous phase. Mn concentrations remained below the Indonesian mining wastewater standard (Permen LHK No. 5/2022), whereas Fe concentrations exceeded the regulatory limit in the 40- and 60-mesh samples. In addition, the leachates remained acidic, with pH values below 6. These findings indicate that oxidative pre-treatment can influence both elemental redistribution in coal residues and metal mobility into the aqueous phase, highlighting the importance of controlling pre-treatment conditions and neutralizing acidic leachates prior to discharge. Overall, the proposed screening approach provides a practical preliminary framework for assessing the geochemical mobility of elements in low-rank coal.

Keywords


groundwater quality; heavy metals; leaching; low-rank coal

Full Text:

PDF

References


N. H. Abdel-kader, R. R. Shahin, and H. A. Khater, “Assessment of Heavy Metals Immobilization in Artificially Contaminated Soils Using some Local Amendments,” vol. 394, no. 3, pp. 379–394, 2013.

S. R. Haq, S. Tamamura, T. Igarashi, and K. Kaneko, “Characterization of organic substances in lignite before and after hydrogen peroxide treatment: Implications for microbially enhanced coalbed methane,” International Journal of Coal Geology, vol. 185, pp. 1–11, 2018, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2017.11.009.

L. Chen, G. Wang, S. Wu, Z. Xia, Z. Cui, and C. Wang, “Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils of the Lihe River Watershed, East China: Spatial Distribution, Ecological Risk, and Pollution Source,” 2019.

S. R. Haq et al., “Biogenic methane generation using solutions from column reactions of lignite with hydrogen peroxide,” International Journal of Coal Geology, vol. 197, pp. 66–73, 2018, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2018.08.007.

M. Imran, D. Kumar, N. Kumar, A. Qayyum, A. Saeed, and M. Shamim, “Environmental concerns of underground coal gasi fi cation,” vol. 31, pp. 600–610, 2014.

S. S. Maddusa, M. G. Paputungan, A. R. Syarifuddin, J. Maambuat, and G. Alla, “Kandungan logam berat timbal (Pb), merkuri (Hg), zink (Zn) dan arsen (As) pada ikan dan air Sungai Tondano, Sulawesi Utara,” Al-Sihah: Public Health Science Journal, vol. 9, no. 2, 2017.

S. LIU, J. LI, M. MEI, and D. DONG, “Groundwater Pollution from Underground Coal Gasification,” Journal of China University of Mining and Technology, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 467–472, 2007, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1006-1266(07)60127-8.

A. Eet. al Yusran, “LITERATURE REVIEW: CEMARAN KADAR LOGAM BERAT MERKURI (HG) PADA BEBERAPA JENIS IKAN DI WILAYAH NUSANTARA,” Jurnal Farmasetis, vol. Volume 12, no. Vol. 12 No. 1 (2023): Jurnal Farmasetis: Februari 2023, 2023.

J. Liu, J. Zhao, Y. Wang, Y. Zhao, and K. Wu, “Speciation distribution and leaching behavior of heavy metals in coal gasification fine ash: Influence of particle size, carbon content and mineral composition,” Science of The Total Environment, vol. 947, p. 174498, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174498.

Hasanuddin and F. Leonard, “Konsentrasi logam berat besi (Fe), mangan (Mn), tembaga (Cu) pada Peraian Sungai Radda,” Pusat Pengembangan Pendidikan dan Penelitian Indonesia, vol. 2, no. 4, 2024.

J. G. Speight, The Chemistry and Technology of Coal, Third Edition. CRC Press, 2012. doi: 10.1201/b12497.

J. Febrita and D. Roosmini, “Analisis Beban Pencemar Logam Berat Industri terhadap Kualitas Sungai Citarum Hulu,” Jurnal Teknik Sipil dan Lingkungan, vol. 7, no. 1, 2022, doi: 10.29244/jsil.7.1.77-88.

Z. Ruan et al., “Effect of Particle Size Refinement on the Leaching Behavior of Mixed Rare-Earth Concentrate Using Hydrochloric Acid,” 2019, doi: 10.1021/acsomega.9b01141.

S. Tamamura, T. Murakami, N. Aramaki, A. Ueno, and A. Akm, “International Journal of Coal Geology Reaction of lignite with dilute hydrogen peroxide to produce substrates for methanogens at in situ subsurface temperatures,” vol. 167, pp. 230–237, 2016.

A. Rehman, M. Park, and S. Park, “Current Progress on the Surface Chemical Modification of Carbonaceous Materials,” pp. 1–21, 2019, doi: 10.3390/coatings9020103.

Zulfahmi, “Teknologi Underground Coal Gasification (UCG),” Pusat Penelitian Dan Pengembangan Teknologi Mineral Dan Batubara, vol. 12, no. 2, 2014.

J. G. Speight, “The Chemistry and Technology of Coal (Third Edition),” CRC Press, 2012.

A. Dashtey, “Fate and Transport of Heavy Metals in Soil, Surface Water, and Groundwater: Implications for Environmental Management,” International Journal of Scientific Research and Management (IJSRM), vol. 12, no. 12, pp. 202–215, 2024.

X. Zhao, B. Wang, Y. Xie, and X. Feng, “A Processing Method to Increase Production of Biomethane from Lignite,” vol. 170, no. Iceep, pp. 1368–1371, 2018.

B. Higman, E. Mckittrick, and D. Coil, “Underground Coal Gasification (UCG),” 2018.

A. Ueno, S. Tamazawa, S. Tamamura, T. Murakami, and T. Kiyama, “Accelerated Bioconversion of Chemically Solubilized Lignite Solution to Methane by Methanogenic Consortium: Experimental Results and Their Application to the Subsurface Cultivation and Gasification Method,” 2022.

N. Aramaki et al., “Experimental investigation on the feasibility of industrial methane production in the subsurface environment via microbial activities in northern Hokkaido, Japan – A process involving subsurface cultivation and gasification,” Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 153, pp. 566–575, 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.10.017.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.31284/j.jemt.2026.v6i2.9182

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Yulia Jamastuti, Shofa Rijalul Haq, Rika Ernawati, Hendriono

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Published by Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian Masyarakat (LPPM)
Institut Teknologi Adhi Tama Surabaya (ITATS)