Passive Treatment Alternatives for Remediating Abandoned‐Mine Drainage

Abstract

Abandoned‐mine drainage (AMD) is drainage flowing from or caused by surface mining, deep mining, or coal refuse piles that is typically highly acidic with elevated levels of dissolved metals. AMD results from the interactions of certain sulfide minerals with oxygen, water, and bacteria. Passive treatment systems have been used to remediate AMD at numerous sites throughout the United States. The theory behind passive treatment is to allow naturally occurring chemical, biological, and physical reactions that aid in AMD treatment to occur in the controlled environment of the system, not in the receiving water body. The advantages of passive treatment over active treatment include lower operation and maintenance costs, virtually no use of chemicals, and minimal energy consumption. The disadvantages are that smaller volumes of water are treated than with active systems, and discharges with high concentrations of dissolved metals and extremes of pH may have to be treated several times within one system to treat the discharge. AMD passive treatment systems include aerobic treatment systems and anaerobic treatment systems. It is estimated that it will take 50 years and between $5 billion and $15 billion to remediate all AMD problems in Pennsylvania. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Profiling Microbial Communities in Manganese Remediation Systems Treating Coal Mine Drainage

“…At such levels, Mn can damage ecosystems and water distribution systems. One of the most common remediation methods in this region involves biologically active limestone treatment beds (3). These beds raise the pH of the CMD and promote the oxidation of soluble Mn(II) to sparingly soluble Mn(III/IV) minerals (4), which are retained in the beds and can be removed periodically.…”

Efeitos da drenagem ácida de mina sobre a qualidade das águas subterrâneas: preceitos legais e técnicos

“…Os principais minerais que podem originar DAM são a pirita (FeS2) e a marcassita (FeS2), mas a pirrotita (FeS), arsenopirita (FeAsS), calcopirita (CuFeS2) e outros minerais de sulfeto contendo ferro (Fe), cobre (Cu), arsênio (As), antimônio (Sb), bismuto (Bi), selênio (Se) e molibdênio (Mo) podem também produzir soluções ácidas (BERGHORN e HUNZEKER, 2001 …”

Assessment of Metal Attenuation in a Natural Wetland System Impacted by Alkaline Mine Tailings, Cobalt, Ontario, Canada

“…Historically, a number of mining companies have used active treatment options for mitigating the impact of mine water on the receiving environment (Berghorn and Hunzeker 2001). These options typically involved the chemical addition of neutralizing agents such as lime, which is expensive (Berghorn and Hunzeker 2001).…”

“…These options typically involved the chemical addition of neutralizing agents such as lime, which is expensive (Berghorn and Hunzeker 2001). This sparked a movement towards alternative treatment options such as passive treatment systems, which include the use of constructed or natural wetlands to attenuate metal contamination.…”

“…Aerobic wetlands typically consist of large surface area pond(s) with horizontal surface flows and aquatic vegetation such as cattails (Typha latifolia), and water depths of less than 30 cm (Berghorn and Hunzeker 2001). These wetlands are typically effective for NAMD because the predominant metal removal/immobilization pathway is via oxidation reactions (Berghorn and Hunzeker 2001).…”