ASTM E2278-13(2019)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2278 − 13 (Reapproved 2019)
Standard Guide for
Use of Coal Combustion Products (CCPs) for Surface Mine
Reclamation: Revegetation and Mitigation of Acid Mine
Drainage
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2278; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 This guide covers the beneficial use of coal combustion
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
products (CCPs) for abatement of acid mine drainage and
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
revegetation for surface mine reclamation applications related
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
to area mining, contour mining, and mountaintop removal
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
mining. It does not apply to underground mine reclamation
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
applications. There are many important differences in physical
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
and chemical characteristics that exist among the various types
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
of CCPs available for use in mine reclamation. CCPs proposed
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
foreachprojectmustbeinvestigatedthoroughlytodesignCCP
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
placement activities to meet the project objectives. This guide
provides procedures for consideration of engineering,
2. Referenced Documents
economic, and environmental factors in the development of
2.1 ASTM Standards:
such applications.
C188 Test Method for Density of Hydraulic Cement
1.2 The utilization of CCPs under this guide is a component
C311 Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Fly Ash or
of a pollution prevention program; Guide E1609 describes
Natural Pozzolans for Use in Portland-Cement Concrete
pollution prevention activities in more detail. Utilization of
C400 Test Methods for Quicklime and Hydrated Lime for
CCPs in this manner conserves land, natural resources, and
Neutralization of Waste Acid
energy.
D75 Practice for Sampling Aggregates
1.3 This guide applies to CCPs produced primarily from the D420 Guide for Site Characterization for Engineering De-
combustion of coal. sign and Construction Purposes
D422 Test Method for Particle-SizeAnalysis of Soils (With-
1.4 The testing, engineering, and construction practices for
drawn 2016)
using CCPs in mine reclamation are similar to generally
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
accepted practices for using other materials, including cement
Fluids
and soils, in mine reclamation.
D698 Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Character-
1.5 Regulations governing the use of CCPs vary by state.
istics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12,400 ft-lbf/ft (600
The user of this guide has the responsibility to determine and
kN-m/m ))
comply with applicable regulations.
D854 Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by
Water Pycnometer
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
D1195 Test Method for Repetitive Static Plate Load Tests of
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
Soils and Flexible Pavement Components, for Use in
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
Evaluation and Design of Airport and Highway Pave-
and are not considered standard.
ments
1 2
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE50onEnvironmental For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Assessment, Risk Management and CorrectiveAction and is the direct responsibil- contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
ity of Subcommittee E50.03 on Beneficial Use. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2019. Published September 2019. Originally the ASTM website.
approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as E2278–13. DOI: The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
10.1520/E2278-13R19. www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E2278 − 13 (2019)
D1452 Practice for Soil Exploration and Sampling byAuger Long-Term Leaching Procedure (LTL)(4)
Borings
D1557 Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Character-
3. Terminology
istics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft
3.1 Definitions—For definitions related to coal combustion
(2,700 kN-m/m ))
products, see Terminology E2201. For definitions related to
D1586 Test Method for Standard PenetrationTest (SPT) and
geotechnical properties see Terminology D653.
Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
D1883 Test Method for California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of
Laboratory-Compacted Soils 3.2.1 acid-forming materials—earth materials that contain
sulfide mineral or other materials, which, if exposed to air,
D2166 Test Method for Unconfined Compressive Strength
of Cohesive Soil water, or weathering processes, will produce acids that may
result in acid drainage.
D2216 Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water
(Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
3.2.2 basicity factor—a measure of alkalinity which can be
D2435 Test Methods for One-Dimensional Consolidation
used for comparing relative neutralization power of materials.
Properties of Soils Using Incremental Loading
It is determined as grams of calcium oxide equivalents per
D3080 Test Method for Direct Shear Test of Soils Under
kilogram of material.
Consolidated Drained Conditions
3.2.3 bench—a ledge, shelf or terrace formed in the contour
D3550 Practice for Thick Wall, Ring-Lined, Split Barrel,
method of strip mining or formed in surface operations of
Drive Sampling of Soils
underground coal mining.
D3877 Test Methods for One-Dimensional Expansion,
Shrinkage, and Uplift Pressure of Soil-Lime Mixtures
3.2.4 disturbed area—thoselandsthathavebeenaffectedby
(Withdrawn 2017)
surface mining and reclamation operations, or by surface
D3987 Practice for Shake Extraction of Solid Waste with
operations of underground coal mining.
Water
3.2.5 final grade—the finished elevation of any surface
D4253 Test Methods for Maximum Index Density and Unit
disturbance prior to replacement of topsoil.
Weight of Soils Using a Vibratory Table
3.2.6 internal erosion—piping; the progressive removal of
D4254 Test Methods for Minimum Index Density and Unit
soil particles from a mass by percolating water, leading to the
Weight of Soils and Calculation of Relative Density
development of channels.
D4448 Guide for Sampling Ground-Water Monitoring Wells
D4767 Test Method for Consolidated Undrained Triaxial
3.2.7 overburden—all of the earth and other materials,
Compression Test for Cohesive Soils
excluding topsoil, which lie above a natural deposit of coal and
D4972 Test Methods for pH of Soils
also means such earth and other material after removal from
D5084 Test Methods for Measurement of Hydraulic Con-
their natural state in the process of strip mining.
ductivity of Saturated Porous Materials Using a Flexible
3.2.8 permeability, n—the capacity to conduct liquid or gas.
Wall Permeameter
It is measured as the proportionality constant, k, between flow
D5092 Practice for Design and Installation of Groundwater
velocity, v, and hydraulic gradient, i; v = ki.
Monitoring Wells
3.2.9 productivity—the vegetative yield produced by a unit
D5239 Practice for Characterizing Fly Ash for Use in Soil
Stabilization area for a unit of time.
D5759 Guide for Characterization of Coal Fly Ash and
3.2.10 recharge capacity—the ability of the soils and under-
Clean Coal Combustion Fly Ash for Potential Uses
lying materials to allow precipitation and run-off to infiltrate
D5851 Guide for Planning and Implementing aWater Moni-
and reach the zone of saturation.
toring Program
3.2.11 soil horizons—contrasting layers of soil lying one
E1527 Practice for Environmental SiteAssessments: Phase I
below the other, parallel or nearly parallel to the land surface.
Environmental Site Assessment Process
Soil horizons are differentiated on the basis of field character-
E1609 Guide for Development and Implementation of a
istics and laboratory data. The three major soil horizons are:
Pollution Prevention Program (Withdrawn 2010)
E2201 Terminology for Coal Combustion Products
3.2.11.1 A horizon—the uppermost layer in the soil profile
often called the surface soil. It is the part of the soil in which
2.2 Other Methods:
organicmatterismostabundant,andwhereleachingofsoluble
EPA Method 1312 Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Proce-
or suspended particles is the greatest.
dure (SPLP)(1)
EPA Method 1320 Multiple Extraction Procedure (MEP)(2)
3.2.11.2 B horizon—the layer immediately beneath the
EPA Method Monofill Waste Extraction Procedure
A-horizon and often called the subsoil. This middle layer
(MWEP)(3)
commonly contains more clay, iron, or aluminum than theAor
Synthetic Ground Water Leaching Procedure (SGLP)(4)
C-horizons.
3.2.11.3 C horizon—the deepest layer of the soil profile. It
consists of loose material or weathered rock that is relatively
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
this standard. unaffected by biologic activity.
E2278 − 13 (2019)
3.2.12 spoil—overburden that has been removed during 4.2.1.3 Specific Gravity—Specific gravity is the ratio of the
surface mining. weightinairofagivenvolumeofsolidsatastatedtemperature
to the weight in air of an equal volume of distilled water at a
3.2.13 stabilize—any method used to control movement of
stated temperature. The particle specific gravity of fly ash is
soil, spoil piles, or areas of disturbed earth and includes
relatively low compared to that of natural materials, and
increasing bearing capacity, increasing shear strength,
generally ranges from 2.1 to 2.6.
draining, compacting, or revegetating.
4.2.1.4 Grain-Size Distribution—Grain-size distribution de-
3.2.14 water table—the upper surface of saturation, where
scribes the proportion of various particle sizes present in a
the body of ground water is not confined by an overlying
material. Fly ash is a uniformly-graded product with spherical,
impermeable zone.The seasonal high water table is the highest
very fine grained particles.
elevation that ground water reaches within the year.
4.2.1.5 Moisture Content—Moisture content is the ratio of
4. Significance and Use
the mass of water contained in the pore spaces of soil or rock
material to the solid mass of particles in that material,
4.1 General—CCPs can effectively be used to reclaim
expressed as a percentage. CCPs have almost no moisture
surface mines (5-10). First, CCPs are ideally suited for use in
when first collected after the combustion of coal. Power plant
numerous reclamation applications. Any type of CCP may be
operators sometimes add moisture to facilitate transport and
evaluated for use in mine reclamation. Project specific testing
handling, a process termed “conditioning.”
is necessary to ensure that the CCPs selected for use on a given
4.2.1.6 Coeffıcient of Permeability—Permeability is the ca-
project will meet the project objectives. Second, the use of
pacity of a material to transmit a liquid.When compacted to its
CCPs can save money because they are available in bulk
maximum dry density, fly ash can have permeabilities ranging
quantities and reduce expenditures for the manufacture and
-3 2 -4 -7
from 10 to 10 gpd/ft (10 to 10 cm/s). These permeabili-
purchase of Portland cement or quicklime. Third, large-scale
ties are comparable to natural silty soils.
use of CCPs for mine reclamation conserves valuable landfill
4.2.2 Chemical Properties:
space by recycling a valuable product to abate acid mine
drainage and reduce the potential for mine subsidence, pro- 4.2.2.1 Elemental Composition—The major elemental com-
ponents of CCPs are silica, aluminum, iron, calcium,
vided that the CCP is environmentally and technically suitable
for the desired use. The availability of CCPs makes it possible magnesium, sodium, potassium, and sulfur.These elements are
to reclaim abandoned mineland that could not otherwise be present in various amounts and combinations dependent pri-
reclaimed. The potential for leaching constituents contained in marily on the coal and type of CCP. The elements combine to
CCPs should be evaluated to ensure that there is no adverse form amorphous (glassy) or crystalline phases. Trace constitu-
ents may include elements such as arsenic, boron, cadmium,
environmental impact.
chromium, copper, chlorine, mercury, manganese,
4.2 Physical and Chemical Properties and Behavior of
molybdenum, selenium, or zinc.
CCPs—Fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, FGD material and
4.2.2.2 Phase Associations—The primary elemental con-
FBC ash, or combinations thereof, can be used for mine
stituents of CCPs are present either as amorphous (glassy)
reclamation. Each of these materials typically exhibits general
phases or crystalline phases. Coal combustion fly ash is
physicalandchemicalpropertiesthatmustbeconsideredinthe
typically 70+ % amorphous material. FGD and FBC products
design of a mine reclamation project using CCPs. The specific
are primarily crystalline, and the crystalline phases typically
properties of these materials vary from source to source so
include lime (CaO), portlandite (Ca(OH) ), hannebachite
environmental and engineering performance testing is recom-
(CaSO · ⁄2 H O), and forms of calcium sulfate.
3 2
mended for the material(s) or combinations to be used in mine
4.2.2.3 Free Lime Content—Free lime content varies among
reclamation projects.
CCP sources and other potential activators (for example, lime
4.2.1 Physical Properties:
kiln dust, cement kiln dust, quicklime, or Portland cement).
4.2.1.1 Unit Weight—Unit weight is the weight per unit
Variability of free lime content in CCP sources is due to the
volumeofmaterial.Flyashhasalowdryunitweight,typically
type and efficiency of the emissions control technology that is
about 50 to 100 pcf (8 to 16 kN/m ). Bottom ash is also
used. FBC products typically contain up to 10 % free lime,
typically lighter than coarse grained soil
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