Evaluation of the Potential of Boiler Ash from Palm Oil Mill as an Alternative Material for the Improvement of Acid Coal Main Drainage

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the potential of boiler ash from palm oil mills to improve the quality
of acid mine drainage (AMD). The experiment was conducted using boiler ash with five doses of
0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 mg. Quicklime was used as a comparison material with doses of 0, 0.02,
0.03, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.3 mg. Boiler ash and quicklime were added to each 500 mL AMD. The
parameters of the AMD quality measured were pH, dissolved iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn), and
the precipitates of Fe and Mn. The results showed that the addition of boiler ash and quicklime
into AMD increased the pH and decreased the concentration of dissolved Fe and Mn and increased
the precipitate of Fe and Mn. The pH value of AMD increased with increasing doses of boiler ash
and quicklime. An increase in the pH value was followed by a decrease in the dissolved Fe and
Mn and anincrease in the Fe and Mn precipitate. The highest pH values, Fe and Mn precipitates,
and the lowest dissolved Fe and Mn were obtained by the treatment of 15 mg/L boiler ash and 0.3
mg/L quicklime. The boiler ash showed promising potential as an alternative neutralizing reagent
to improve AMD even though the amount of boiler ash needed to repair AMD was more than
quicklime.