RESEARCH PROJECT 73-9 FINAL REPORT-EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE APPLICATION OF LIMESTONE AND LIME DUST IN THE ABATEMENT OF ACIDIC DRAINAGE IN CENTRE COUNTY, PENNSYLVAIA

Acid pollution of springs, a lake, and stream resulted from I-80 highway construction near Snow Shoe, Centre County, Pennsylvania, where extensive cuts and fills were required in pyritic rocks. Oxidation of pyrite contained in extensive fill embankments and in spoil deposits caused fish kills and overall water quality degradation down valley. Surficial application of a mixture of limestone fragments and lime flue dust (600 metric tons/ha) with aged sawdust (225 cu m/ha) and vegetation reduced acid production within a treatment area. Water quality and flow data were monitored from June 1973 to December 1977 for both a control and treatment area. Iron, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, sulfate, acidity, pH, and temperature were measured. Prior to treatment, pH was directly related to discharge. Annual peak sulfate concentrations at the treated versus an untreated site down gradient were 374 versus 500 parts per million (1973-74, pretreatment), 100 versus 250 parts per million (1974-75), and 20 versus 260 parts per million (1975-76). The pH values at the treatment site increased from 4.0 to 5.8 and from 3.9 to 4.4 for the control plot. Fluxes of sulfate concentration indicate that the treatment not only neutralizes acid but also slows its production, indicating that when the pH is higher than 4.5 to 5.0, bacterial catalysis is unimportant in pyrite oxidization, and the water's buffer capacity can neutralize the acid. The method should have application on most disturbed lands, but when lime flue dust is used in combination with quarry wastes, it should be aged or well blended with soil to prevent pavement development. (FHWA)

• Corporate Authors:

  Pennsylvania State University, University Park

  Department of Geosciences
  University Park, PA  United States  16802

  Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

  Commonwealth and Forster Streets
  Harrisburg, PA  United States  17120

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Waddell Jr, R K
  • Parizek, R R
  • Buss, D R
• Publication Date: 1980-8-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 79 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Limestone aggregates; Limestone dust; Road construction; Sawdust; Sulfuric acid; Surface drainage; Water pollution
• Old TRIS Terms: Highway drainage; Neutralizing
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I35: Miscellaneous Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00331732
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/PA-80/011 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: 73-9
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 15 1981 12:00AM