The Effects of Biochar on the
Neutralization of Leachate in Acid Mine Drainage Sites
Ty MacGuffie, Cora Kilgo, Jerrica
Crosby
Animas High School
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A B S T R A C T
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Acid
mine drainage (AMD), also sometimes referred to as acid rock drainage, is the
condition of acidic water flowing through mine tailings or other exposed rock.
It is usually caused by metal or coalmines but also has happened in
construction sites where rock is unearthed. Acid mine drainage has posed a
threat to aquatic life and ecosystems in general and threatens the health of
anything that uses the overly acidic water. The application of biochar, a
carbon-intensive and very porous material, assists the retention of moisture and
helps stimulate revegetation in the site. This plant growth will remove toxic
metals from the soil and use them advantageously, causing the leachate pH to neutralize.
At Animas High School, we experimented with the effectiveness of biochar on
vegetation reinstatement with various samples from known AMD sites in the
Silverton area using a plant growth trial. From our results we discovered that
biochar does not necessarily promote vegetation reinstatement but this method
of neutralization is certainly one that has proven itself effective. Our
results also show a constant neutralization in the first week indifferent to
Biochar concentration, telling that vegetation reinstatement is what made this
difference.
1) Introduction
Acid mine drainage, also known as
acid rock drainage, is the process in which elevated pH is caused by unintended
exposure of metals and minerals in soil at mine sites or, in the case of acid
rock drainage, turned over minerals in rock and soil in road and other commercial
construction (Skousen, 1997). When toxic metals such as pyrite, the most
commonly occurring metal that elevates pH in mine tailings, are exposed and
leachate seeps through them, pH is elevated (Shackley, 2011). This is due to a
series of reactions that result in the contribution of extra H+
ions, which increase acidity. Low pH can be very detrimental to aquatic life
and other organisms, because an average ecosystem must have water with a pH
around 7, considered neutral (Sophie, 2011).
Biochar, a
charcoal created by pyrolysis of biomass, has a very porous structure with high
surface area, allowing it to retain more water than soil (Reed, 2012). Extra
moisture promotes plant growth allowing nutrients, phosphorous and
agrochemicals to be retained by the plant for its own benefit and the plant
sorbs toxic metals causing them to be not as present in the leachate, which
flows into streams and other bodies of water (Solomon, 2009). Thus more
vegetation will create a more neutral pH (Rennick, 2012).
2) Methods and Materials
In the growth
trial experiment at Animas High School, students evaluated growth response of
perennial vegetation to biochar amendments in mining affected soils. In
preparation, different soils from various mine sites in the Silverton region
(Bonner, Road Cut, Joe John, Across From Bonner, Brooklyn) were mixed with
various concentrations of biochar. To carry out this experiment materials were
initially collected (Soil samples, sieve, scale, biochar, volume measurement,
grow lights, 3.5 inch containers w/ trays, mixing bowl, seed mixture, pH
probe). The soil samples were set up by creating various accurate ratios of
biochar and soil, adding a seed mixture (See Seed Mixture table), then filling
the small plastic containers, and they were grouped by site and percentage. The
ratios were 10, 20, and 30 percent by volume for each of the sites. Once all of
the samples were set up they were placed under a grow light and set on a timed
lighting sequence. Growth trials then began and students recorded various
characteristics of the growth along with the pH of the leachate. The leachate
pH’s were recorded in a chronological database by pouring 100ml of water
through each soil sample, collecting the resulting water from all three trials
with similar treatments and sites and then measuring the pH of the resulting
leachate. We took pH samples with the Vernier LabQuest data collection device,
always first calibrating the pH probe with both pH 7 and pH 10 solutions. The
pH measurements were updated weekly for 55 days.
3) Results
From our
experiment’s results, we can see no obvious or constant increase in pH with the
use of biochar. The results show an erratic pattern and do not show a direct
influence of biochar on pH of soil leachate. In each of the sites, both with
high initial pH and low initial pH, the change in pH seems to have increased
slightly throughout the experiment but not enough to deem it productive for the
soil and the cause of acid mine drainage.
At AFB and RC
sites, both with slightly higher initial leachate pH’s at 6.64 and 6.69, seemed
to raise initially but then followed a generally random pattern. Both these
sites’ pH’s were neutral at the end of the trial but the presence of biochar
seemed not to affect this result.
At all other
sites with slightly lower initial pH’s similar results were present. The pH
rose most initially when the plants began to sprout but then changed somewhat
erratically.
The presence of
biochar in the samples seemed to affect them somewhat at different percentages
but as a whole showed no direct obvious correlation, though at some sites for
some samples there may have been more neutralization with a higher concentration
of biochar.
4) Discussion
Our results have
shown that the growth of the plants in our experiment neutralized the pH of the
soil samples, though the data did not prove that biochar made a difference in
the pH neutralization for the results seemed random or erratic. The various
concentrations didn’t affect the leachate pH differently, and some showed lower
leachate pH from the initial pH.
The initial rise
in pH within the first week was constant throughout the samples so we can
conclude that biochar was not responsible for this plant growth/neutralization.
This was most likely due to the initial sprouting and growth of the plants that
occurred within most samples.
Error also
affected our results in the experiment and possibly could have invalidated them
in whole. During the process of the experiment, the light that supported the
plants was accidentally off, causing most of the vegetation to die. This
prevented more metals from being removed from the soil and stopped any further
neutralization that could’ve occurred.
These results
should not be refuted though, for they still provide valuable evidence that
proves the effectiveness of reinstating vegetation at an AMD site. Our results
show that reinstating vegetation is an effective way to neutralize mine
leachate, and that creating hospitable conditions for vegetation is the best
start to a solution to AMD. Though there is an issue with vegetation
reinstatement, getting plants to grow in highly acidic soil.
References
Skousen, J., Hilton, T., & Faulkner,
B. (1997). Reclamation of Drastically Disturbed Lands. National Mine
Land Reclamation, WV: WVU Extension Service. Retrieved May 6, 2012
Rennick,
R. B. (2012). Hardrock Mining 2012. N.p.: United States EPA.
Sophie, U. (2011, December 8). Biochar Soil Amendment for
Environmental and Agronomic Benefits. Retrieved May 6, 2012
Shackley, S., Carter, S., Sims, K., & Sohi, S. (2011,
May 12). Expert Perceptions of the Role of Biochar as a Carbon Abatement Option
with Ancillary Agronomic and Soil-Related Benefits. Retrieved May 6, 2012
Reed, D. What is
Biochar? [Electronic version]. Biochar International.
Solomon, F.
(2009, January). Impacts of Copper on Aquatic Ecosystems and Human Health. .
Retrieved May 6, 2012
In Chemistry class this semester, our main project was to change the chemical composition of a product to become more useable or effecient. My suggestion to Amneal Pharmaceutical Company, also a suggestion to generally all of humanity, was to replace opioid analgesic medication with a Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is more commonly known for being the main psycoactive ingredient in Cannabis.
Final draft-
Dear Amneal Pharmaceutical Company,
As many statistics are revealing the negative side effects of medication which is created in order to heal pain using opiates such as Hydrocodone and Oxycodone, pharmaceuticals must search for an alternative to these highly addictive opioids. Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, otherwise known as THC, is the active cannabinoid in marijuana which produces both analgesic and moderate psychoactive effects, along with many other medical benefits. Since the beginning of the abolition of marijuana, many people have made discoveries that prove its abolition is unjust and the medical benefits of cannabinoids out-weigh its scheduling of a controlled substance. If opiate derived pharmaceuticals were instead replaced with a synthesis of THC based medicines, the negative side effects of opiate medication would be reduced drastically in society as a whole.
Medical uses for marijuana include are not limited to cancer, seizures, migraines, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, Tourette’s, OCD, ADD and ADHD, IBS, Crohn’s disease, Alzheimer’s, and premenstrual syndrome. These benefits are what makes marijuana one of the most useful natural medicines in the world, and are solid evidence of both THC’s harmlessness and revolutionary medical benefits.
In 1998, 2.2 percent of people admitted to rehabilitation therapy admitted to abuse of prescription drugs, this rate increased to about 10 percent by 2010. With increasing popularity and abuse of pain medication, it may start to become a controlled substance rather than a medication, for its analgesic affects are overpowered by its depressive effects which cause the user to feel a high similar to natural opiates, such as heroin and opium. The addictivity of these substances is also an issue in those who use them for medical purposes. Patients begin to depend on the medication to relieve pain, continually increasing dosage, which causes them to want the medication even when they are not in pain; this is the depthening cycle which opioids lead pain inflicted individuals into. If a derivative of THC was applied as pain medication instead of any form of opioid, the factor of physical dependence would be absent, with similar analgesic effects and less of a depressive euphoric sensation.
Addiction to pain medication is not anything which strikes only individuals whom are acclaimed drug users, and it actually happens to functional non drug users all over. A friend of mine, a sophomore in high school, has recently been attempting and struggling to remove Hydrocodone from his every day schedule, for he has been a victim of addiction to opioid medication. He had started using pain medication when his mother was going through treatment for breast cancer and was prescribed a Hydrocodone drug to cope with the pain. He could have this medication any time he wanted, and as he continued to use it recreationally, he developed a dependence upon it. He fortunately realized the detrimental effects this had on his life, and sought help in order to improve his life. His mother, unsatisfied with the effects of Hydrocodone, began using marijuana to cope with the health issues associated with breast cancer. She improved in mood, hormonal balance and was relieved of her pain and reported very high medical value of marijuana. If THC was the sole medication people are administered for pain, one of my best friends would not have to deal with any sort of addiction, for THC is not physically addicting, and he wouldn’t be presented with a constant temptation of opioid medication. I assume many adolescents may have dealt/are dealing with a similarly caused addiction, and if Marijuana and other cannabinoid based medications were to be fully legalized, 62% of adolescents that had used pain medication which was not prescribed to them in a survey done by Partnership for a Drug-Free America whom claimed to have used prescription pain medication because it was easy to access it through their parents’ medicine cabinets would not be tempted to use opioid medications either.
It is possible to synthesize THC into a compound which does not give a euphoric sensation but retains its analgesic effects, such as a derivative called 5-Desoxy-Tetrahydrocannabinol. This substance reduces sensitivity and acknowledgement of pain, producing an analgesic effect without interacting with dopamine receptors, so there is no euphoric or “high” feeling. If used as pain medication, the patient would not suffer from addiction or dependence and they would not experience psychoactive effects. This still may not be the complete answer to the medical marijuana dilemma, for many other cannabinoids in marijuana reduce THC’s mental side effects and have positive medical effects. Cannabidiol, one of the many cannabinoids in THC, does not particularly have psychoactive effects and does not effect THC’s psychoactive effects, and evidence shows that it reduces the user’s likelihood to experience Schizophrenia like symptoms from THC when used at the same time as THC. Cannabidiol has also been shown to relieve convulsion, inflammation, anxiety, and nausea.
Pharmacists have already synthesized THC as a legal medication, Dronobinol(Marinol), and it has been applied medically to many patients for pain relief, appetite induction, muscle spasms, and the many other health benefits THC has. Most patients that have used Marinol discontinued their prescription because of its stronger, more acute psychoactive effects. This is caused by the large, fixed dosage in each pill which is usually capable of being mediated because THC is usually consumed in much smaller increments through smoking or vaporizing it. There is also an absence of all of marijuana’s cannabinoids, some of which compliment the effects of THC and cause marijuana to have a more pleasing psychoactive effect in sacrifice for its medicinal values which causes patients to have less pleasing psychoactive side effects.
Many other cannabinoids derived from THC may be the key to medicine and pain relief, and have been since the beginning of human kind. All people have cannabinoid receptors expressed in the brain, liver, and in T-cells of the body which are specifically designed for cannabinoids. One of these receptors, CB2, is thought to be responsible for nociception, the perception of pain, and is not associated with psychoactive effects of THC. Since the cannabinoid receptors are present This harmonious relationship between plant and animal is irrefutable for cannabinoid receptors are not meant to react with any other substances than cannabinoids only found in Cannabis.
The toxicity of THC in humans is very, very low, so low in fact that it is nearly impossible to overdose on cannabis in its plant form. A man that weighs 70 kg would have to consume at least about 14815 grams of medium grade cannabis in order to obtain a lethal dose, thats about 14815 very large joints. A study was carried out to determine the lethal dosage of THC in rats in order to estimate the toxicity of THC in humans (Chan et al. 1996). Rats were administered 50mg/kg of pure THC for a time period of two years and a control group was also monitored for the two years, and while the majority of the control group (55%) died after the two years, 70% of the THC rats survived. These results are due to the cancer reducing effect THC has on animals. If A THC derivative was used in the place of opioids for pain medication, overdose on analgesic medication would be reduced to near nothing, that is if the opioid medications are removed from use.
Tetrahyrocannabinol is truly an under recognized medicine which relieves many disorders such as insomnia, chronic pain, muscle spasms, and many more; my goal is to advocate for its recognition as a medicine rather than the drug propaganda and illegality have labeled it as.
How THC and Opiates act inside the brain:
Both of these drugs take similar courses inside the brain, increasing the release of dopamine into the synapse, which in turn causes the user to feel high. Anandamide is a natural cannabinoid found inside the body which turns off the release of Inhibitive neurotransmitters, which inhibit the flow of dopamine, and allows dopamine to be released into the body. Anandamide has been found to affect the termination of insignificant short term memories and to slow movement, creating a relaxed, calm state throughout the body. THC mimics the binding qualities of anandamide and binds to cannabinoid receptors, allowing dopamine to be squirted into the synapse. Opiates affect the flow of dopamine much more heavily and affect the reward system within the brain, causing addictivity. Opiates bind to many opiate receptors in the brain which causes the synapse to be flooded with dopamine.
Note: this is a general overview of the affects of drugs mon solely the brain. There are many other medical benefits or negative obstructions which in the body and explain why these drugs are so different medically despite their similarity in the brain. Though, even the much higher flow of dopamine experienced with opiates may itself explain negative side affects which are not experienced with THC.
Much obliged,
Ty Macguffie
Bibliography
"Pharmacological and Toxicological Basis of THC Limits for Food." Naihc.com. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. <http://naihc.org/hemp_information/content/nova_report/part2.html>.
Maxwell, Jane C. "Trends in the Abuse of Prescription Drugs." UTexas.com. Web. 26 Oct. 2011. <http://www.utexas.edu/research/cswr/gcattc/documents/PrescriptionTrends_Web.pdf>.
"Emergency Department Visits Involving Nonmedical Use of Selected Prescription Drugs --- United States, 2004--2008." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web. 03 Nov. 2011. <http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5923a1.htm>.
"Analgesics, Pain Relievers, Oxycondone: Analgesics, Pain Reliever Reports FromSAMHSA's Office of Applied Studies." OAS Home: Alcohol, Tobacco & Drug Abuse and Mental Health Data from SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies. Web. 03 Nov. 2011. <http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/analgesics.htm>.
Strengths/Weaknesses-
My letter was worded in a way that more so a logical perspective relating to addiction and health detrimentality. If I were to include more chemical explanations for why THC is a more effective and less bad for health, my grade would've been better. I also didn't include any explanations of chemical bonding, and being a required section, I didn't receive any credit for it. Though all requirements were not met in my paper, It provides a completely logically sound argument advocating for the use of marijuana and cannabinoids as medication, and also shows that Marijuana is not nearly as unhealthy as medications doctors prescribe for pain.
What Did I learn?-
I didn't necessarily gain very much new knowledge through this process, but I was able to apply my vast knowledge of cannabis and cannabinoids to the project. Being a constant advocate for the right to use cannabis both medically and recreationally, I have done very much research to support my argument logically and medicinally.
Assignment I'm Proud of:
