|
Wiseman, I. M., Edwards, P. J., & Rutt, G. P. (2003). Recovery of an aquatic ecosystem following treatment of abandoned mine drainage with constructed wetlands. Land Contam. Reclam., 11(2), 221–230.
Abstract: Seven kilometres of the River Pelenna in South Wales were impacted for approximately 30 years by discharges from abandoned coal mines. Elevated iron and low pH caused significant ochreous staining and had detrimental effects on the river ecology. The River Pelenna Mine water project constructed a series of passive wetland treatment systems to treat these discharges. Monitoring of the performance and environmental benefits of these has been undertaken as part of an Environment Agency R&D project. This project has assessed the changes in water quality as well as monitoring populations of invertebrates, fish and birds between 1993 and 2001. Performance data from the wetlands show that on average the three systems are removing between 82 and 95% of the iron loading from the mine waters. In the rivers downstream, the dissolved iron concentration has dropped to below the Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) of 1 mg/L for the majority of the time. Increases in pH downstream of the discharges have also been demonstrated. Trout (Salmo trutta) recovered quickly following mine water treatment, returning the next year to areas that previously had no fish. Intermittent problems with overflows from the treatment systems temporarily depleted the numbers, but the latest data indicate a thriving population. The overflow problems and also background episodes of acidity have affected the recovery of the riverine invertebrates. However, there have been gradual improvements in the catchment, and in the summer of 2001 most sites held faunas which approached those found in unpolluted controls. Recovery of the invertebrate fauna is reflected in marked increases in the breeding success of riverine birds between 1996 and 2001. This study has shown that constructed wetlands can be an effective, low cost and sustainable solution to ecological damage caused by abandoned mine drainage.
|
|
|
Zamzow, M. J., & Schultze, L. E. (1993). Treatment of acid mine drainage using natural zeolites. International Conference on the Occurrence, Properties, and Utilization of Natural Zeolites, 1993, 220–221.
|
|
|
Eger, P., Melchert, G., Antonson, D., & Wagner, J. (1993). Magnesium hydroxide as a treatment for acid mine drainage in northern Minnesota. In B. A. Zamora, & R. E. Connolly (Eds.), Proceedings of the Annual National Meeting – American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation, vol.10 (pp. 204–217). The challenge of integrating diverse perspectives in reclamation.
Abstract: Three alkaline materials were investigated for their suitability to treat acid mine drainage generated by a research facility located at a remote site in northern Minnesota. The materials investigated were hydrated lime, sodium hydroxide, and magnesium hydroxide. All three reagents were successful at raising pH and removing trace metals from the drainage, but the magnesium hydroxide had the added benefit of producing a maximum pH of approximately 9.5, while the other two reagents resulted in pH values of 12 and greater. In addition, the magnesium hydroxide was available as a high solid content slurry (58%) which simplified application and handling, and which produced the lowest volume of sludge of the materials tested.
|
|
|
Kepler, D. A., & Mc Cleary, E. C. (1994). Successive Alkalinity-Producing Systems (SAPS) for the Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage. Proceedings, International Land Reclamation and Mine Drainage Conference, 1, 195–204.
Abstract: Constructed wetland treatment system effectiveness has been limited by the alkalinity-producing, or acidity-neutralizing, capabilities of systems. Anoxic limestone drains (ALD's) have allowed for the treatment of approximately 300 mg/L net acidic mine drainage, but current design guidance precludes using successive ALD's to generate alkalinity in excess of 300 mg/L because of concerns with dissolved oxygen. “Compost” wetlands designed to promote bacterially mediated sulfate reduction are suggested as a means of generating alkalinity required in excess of that produced by ALD's. Compost wetlands create two basic needs of sulfate reducing bacteria; anoxic conditions resulting from the inherent oxygen demand of the organic substrate, and quasi-circumneutral pH values resulting from the dissolution of the carbonate fraction of the compost. However, sulfate reduction treatment area needs are generally in excess of area availability and/or cost effectiveness. Second generation alkalinity-producing systems demonstrate that a combination of existing treatment mechanisms has the potential to overcome current design concerns and effectively treat acidic waters ad infinitum. Successive alkalinity-producing systems (SAPS) combine ALD technology with sulfate reduction mechanisms. SAPS promote vertical flow through rich organic wetland substrates into limestone beds beneath the organic compost, discharging the pore waters. SAPS allow for conservative wetland treatment sizing calculations to be made as a rate function based on pH and alkalinity values and associated contaminant loadings. SAPS potentially decrease treatment area requirements and have the further potential to generate alkalinity in excess of acidity regardless od acidity concentrations.
|
|
|
Perry, A., & Kleinmann, R. L. P. (1991). The use of constructed wetlands in the treatment of acid mine drainage. Natural Resources Forum, 15(3), 178–184.
Abstract: US government regulations require that all effluents from industrial operations, including mining, meet certain water quality standards. Constructed wetlands have proven to be useful in helping to attain those standards. Application of this biotechnology to mine water drainage can reduce water treatment costs and improve water quality in streams and rivers adversely affected by acidic mine water drainage from abandoned mines. Over 400 constructed wetland water treatment systems have been built on mined lands largely as a result of research by the US Bureau of Mines. Wetlands are passive biological treatment systems that are relatively inexpensive to construct and require minimal maintenance. Chemical treatment costs are reduced sufficiently to repay the cost of construction in less than a year. The mine waste water is typically treated in a series of excavated ponds that resemble small marsh areas. The ponds are engineered to facilitate bacterial oxidation of iron. Ideally, the water then flows through a composted organic substrate supporting a population of sulphate-reducing bacteria which raises the pH. Constructed wetlands in the US are described – their history, functions, construction methodologies, applicabilities, limitations and costs. -Authors
|
|