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Gatzweiler, R. (2001). Cover design for radioactive and AMD-producing mine waste in the Ronneburg area, Eastern Thuringia. Waste Management, 21(2), 175–184.
Abstract: At the former uranium mining site of Ronneburg, large scale underground and open pit mining for nearly 40 years resulted in a production of about 113 000 tonnes of uranium and about 200 million cubic metres of mine waste. In their present state, these materials cause risks to human health and strong environmental impacts and therefore demand remedial action. The remediation options available are relocation of mine spoil into the open pit and on site remediation by landscaping/contouring, placement of a cover and revegetation. A suitable vegetated cover system combined with a surface water drainage system provides long-term stability against erosion and reduces acid generation thereby meeting the main remediation objectives which are long-term reduction of radiological exposure and contaminant emissions and recultivation. The design of the cover system includes the evaluation of geotechnical, radiological, hydrological, geochemical and ecological criteria and models. The optimized overall model for the cover system has to comply with general conditions as, e.g. economic efficiency, public acceptance and sustainability. Most critical elements for the long-term performance of the cover system designed for the Beerwalde dump are the barrier system and its long-term integrity and a largely self-sustainable vegetation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Evangelou, V. P. (2001). Pyrite microencapsulation technologies: Principles and potential field application. Ecological Engineering, 17(2-3), 165–178.
Abstract: In nature, pyrite is initially oxidized by atmospheric O2, releasing acidity and Fe2+. At pH below 3.5, Fe2+ is rapidly oxidized by T. ferrooxidans to Fe3+, which oxidizes pyrite at a much faster rate than O2. Commonly, limestone is used to prevent pyrite oxidation. This approach, however, has a short span of effectiveness because after treatment the surfaces of pyrite particles remain exposed to atmospheric O2 and oxidation continuous abiotically. Currently, a proposed mechanism for explaining non-microbial pyrite oxidation in high pH environments is the involvement of OH- in an inner-sphere electron-OH exchange between pyrite/surface-exposed disulfide and pyrite/surface-Fe(III)(OH)n3-n complex and/or formation of a weak electrostatic pyrite/surface-CO3 complex which enhances the chemical oxidation of Fe2+. The above infer that limestone application to pyritic geologic material treats only the symptoms of pyrite oxidation through acid mine drainage neutralization but accelerates non-microbial pyrite oxidation. Therefore, only a pyrite/surface coating capable of inhibiting O2 diffusion is expected to control long-term oxidation and acid drainage production. The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility in controlling pyrite oxidation by creating, on pyrite surfaces, an impermeable phosphate or silica coating that would prevent either O2 or Fe3+ from further oxidizing pyrite. The mechanism underlying this coating approach involves leaching mine waste with a coating solution composed of H2O2 or hypochlorite, KH2PO4 or H4SiO4, and sodium acetate (NaAC) or limestone. During the leaching process, H2O2 or hypochlorite oxidizes pyrite and produces Fe3+ so that iron phosphate or iron silicate precipitates as a coating on pyrite surfaces. The purpose of NaAC or limestone is to eliminate the inhibitory effect of the protons (produced during pyrite oxidation) on the precipitation of iron phosphate or silicate and to generate iron-oxide pyrite coating, which is also expected to inhibit pyrite oxidation. The results showed that iron phosphate or silicate coating could be established on pyrite by leaching it with a solution composed of: (1) H2O2 0.018-0.16 M; (2) phosphate or silicate 10-3 to 10-2 M; (3) coating-solution pH [approximate]5-6; and (4) NaAC as low as 0.01 M. Leachates from column experiments also showed that silicate coatings produced the least amount of sulfate relative to the control, limestone and phosphate treatments. On the other hand, limestone maintained the leachate near neutral pH but produced more sulfate than the control.
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Bertrand, S. (1997). Performance of a nanofiltration plant on hard and highly sulphated water during two years of operation. Desalination, 113(2-3), 277–281.
Abstract: A highly sulphated, hard water from a flooded iron mine was treated by nanofiltration for the production of drinking water (125 m(3)/h). This paper introduces the context and summarizes the configuration and operating conditions of the plant. The process performance in terms of product water quality and permeability during the first 2 years is presented and discussed.
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Blowes, D. W., Ptacek, C. J., Benner, S. G., McRae, C. W. T., & Puls, R. W. (1998). Treatment of dissolved metals using permeable reactive barriers. Groundwater Quality: Remediation and Protection, (250), 483–490.
Abstract: Permeable reactive barriers are a promising new approach to the treatment of dissolved contaminants in aquifers. This technology has progressed rapidly from laboratory studies to full-scale implementation over the past decade. Laboratory treatability 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 indicated the potential for treatment of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, NO3, PO4, and SO4. Permeable reactive barriers have been used in full-scale installations for the treatment of hexavalent chromium, dissolved constituents associated with acid-mine drainage, including SO4, Fe, Ni, Co and Zn, and dissolved nutrients, including nitrate and phosphate. A full-scale barrier designed to prevent the release of contaminants associated with inactive mine tailings impoundment was installed at the Nickel Rim mine site in Canada in August 1995. This reactive barrier removes Fe, SO,, Ni and other metals. The effluent from the barrier is neutral in pH and contains no acid-generating potential, and dissolved metal concentrations are below regulatory guidelines. A full-scale reactive barrier was installed to treat Cr(VI) and halogenated hydrocarbons at the US Coast Guard site in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, USA in June 1996. This barrier removes Cr(VI) from >8 mg l(-1) to <0.01 mg l(-1).
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Banks, D., Younger, P. L., Arnesen, R. - T., Iversen, E. R., & Banks, S. B. (1997). Mine-water chemistry: The good, the bad and the ugly. Environ. Geol., 32(3), 157–174.
Abstract: Contaminative mine drainage waters have become one of the major hydrogeological and geochemical problems arising from mankind's intrusion into the geosphere. Mine drainage waters in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom are of three main types: (1) saline formation waters; (2) acidic, heavy-metal-containing, sulphate waters derived from pyrite oxidation, and (3) alkaline, hydrogen-sulphide-containing, heavy-metal-poor waters resulting from buffering reactions and/or sulphate reduction. Mine waters are not merely to be perceived as problems, they can be regarded as industrial or drinking water sources and have been used for sewage treatment, tanning and industrial metals extraction. Mine-water problems may be addressed by isolating the contaminant source, by suppressing the reactions releasing contaminants, or by active or passive water treatment. Innovative treatment techniques such as galvanic suppression, application of bactericides, neutralising or reducing agents (pulverised fly ash-based grouts, cattle manure, whey, brewers' yeast) require further research.
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