Juby, G. J. G., & Schutte, C. F. (2000). Membrane Life in a Seeded-slurry Reverse Osmosis System. Water Sa, 26(2), 239–248.
Abstract: Membrane replacement can be a major operating cost of a membrane plant. During the development of a novel desalination technique (the SPARRO process) for treating calcium sulphate scaling mine waters the expected life of tubular cellulose acetate membranes operating in the seeded-slurry mode was investigated.During four operating phases of the plant over a five-year period more than 9 000 h of operating data were obtained. Performance data showed that each operating phase was dominated by either membrane fouling or membrane hydrolysis. Membrane fouling was observed to begin near the front-end of the membrane stack and proceed towards the back. Hydrolysis, on the other hand, occurred first in the tail end of the stack and moved backwards towards the Front end modules. Although two detailed membrane autopsies were carried out no definitive statement can be made in respect of the causes of either membrane hydrolysis or membrane fouling. However, suggestions are presented to explain the observed fouling phenomenon in relation to the turbidity of the pretreated feed water and the presence of chlorine. It is proposed that the presence of radioactive isotopes in the mine water which become concentrated in the process contributes to the observed membrane hydrolysis. A membrane life of up to two years is projected for an improved pretreatment arrangement.
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Younger, P. L. (2000). Holistic remedial strategies for short- and long-term water pollution from abandoned mines. Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy Section a-Mining Technology, 109, A210–A218.
Abstract: Where mining proceeds below the water-table-as it has extensively in Britain and elsewhere-water ingress is not only a hindrance during mineral extraction but also a potential liability after abandonment. This is because the cessation of dewatering that commonly follows mine closure leads to a rise in the water-table and associated, often rapid, changes in the chemical regime of the subsurface. Studies over the past two decades have provided insights into the nature and time-scales of these changes and provide a basis for rational planning of mine-water management during and after mine abandonment. The same insights into mine-water chemistry provide hints for the efficient remediation of pollution (typically due to Fe, Mn and Al and, in some cases, Zn, Cd, Pb and other metals). Intensive treatment (by chemical dosing with enhanced sedimentation or alternative processes, such as sulphidization or reverse osmosis) is often necessary only during the first few years following complete flooding of mine voids. Passive treatment (by the use of gravity-flow geochemical reactors and wetlands) may be both more cost-effective and ecologically more responsible in the long term. By the end of 1999 a total of 28 passive systems had been installed at United Kingdom mine sites, including examples of system types currently unique to the United Kingdom. Early performance data for all the systems are summarized and shown to demonstrate the efficacy of passive treatment when appropriately applied.
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Angelos, M. A. F. (2000). Rehabilitation options for a Finnish copper mine. International Conference on Practical Applications in Environmental Geotechnology Ecogeo 2000, 204, 207–214.
Abstract: The Luikonlahti Copper mine is located near the town of Kaavi in eastern Finland, approximately 30 km northwest of Outokumpu. The copper sulphide ore deposit formed the northern most part of the Outokumpu assemblage. During 15 years of operation, between 1968 and 1983, a total of 33 km of underground tunnels and 5.5 km of underground shafts were excavated in the mining of 6.85 million metric tons of ore. The underground working are now flooded with 2 million m(3) of contaminated water and three open pits contain over 1 million m(3) of contaminated water. Five separate waste rock piles exist and are actively forming acid mine drainage (AMD).
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Skousen, J. G., Sexstone, A., & Ziemkiewicz, P. F. (2000). (I. Barnhisel Richard, G. Darmody Robert, & W. L. Daniels, Eds.). Reclamation of Drastically Disturbed Lands. Madison, Wis.: American Society of Agronomy.
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Blowes, D. W., Ptacek, C. J., Benner, S. G., McRae, C. W. T., Bennett, T. A., & Puls, R. W. (2000). Treatment of inorganic contaminants using permeable reactive barriers. J Contam Hydrol, 45(1-2), 123–137.
Abstract: Permeable reactive barriers are an emerging alternative to traditional pump and treat systems for groundwater remediation. This technique has progressed rapidly over the past decade from laboratory bench-scale studies to full-scale implementation. Laboratory studies indicate the potential for treatment of a large number of inorganic contaminants, including As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Tc, U, V, NO3, PO4 and SO4. Small-scale field studies have demonstrated treatment of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, NO3, PO4 and SO4. Permeable reactive barriers composed of zero-valent iron have been used in full-scale installations for the treatment of Cr, U, and Tc. Solid-phase organic carbon in the form of municipal compost has been used to remove dissolved constituents associated with acid-mine drainage, including SO4, Fe, Ni, Co and Zn. Dissolved nutrients, including NO3 and PO4, have been removed from domestic septic-system effluent and agricultural drainage.
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