A geochemical study on the saline waters circulating in an ash disposal pond of Seocheon Power Plant. Korea

This study was carried out to understand the geochemistry of saline water circulating in an ash disposal pond of Seocheon power plant, Korea. For this study, ash pond waters, slurry water and seawater samples were collected and analyzed for major ions and trace elements. Results show that ash pond waters and slurry water are alkaline in nature due to high calcium content, and have high concentration of Ca, B, Li, As, Ba, Al, Si and Mn over seawater, suggest that these elements leached from fly ash even at high alkaline condition and ionic strength. Slurry water has high concentration of B, Ba, Li, Mn, Si and Sr compare to ash pond waters, expresses that these elements seem to be easily reached at initial stage fly ash-water interaction, and also might be associated with the surface of the fly ash particles. Additionally, PHREEQC program predicted several secondary solid phases, which are also influenced in the leaching of elements in to the saline water.