Abstract: Much work has been carried out in recent decades concerning minewater treatment, both in the UK and worldwide. Many different bodies and organizations are involved in developing minewater treatment processes and schemes. Minewater Treatment addresses the need for a single source of state-of-the-art information that draws all the latest research material together. Key features of the book include: a full literature review of minewater treatment throughout the world; an overview of relevant legislation and policy in a global context; a review of currently available methods for treating minewater worldwide; a site specific inventory of minewater treatment schemes within the UK, including compilation of available monitoring data and assessment of performance; a review of emerging and innovative minewater treatment technologies and consideration of related academic research within the UK; a comprehensive list of active and innovative minewater treatment technologies that are not currently compiled in a book or other review publication; a detailed summary and recommendations section assessing the applicability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of minewater treatment schemes. Relevant scientific subject matter is presented in a concise, easily accessible manner to assist with the objective assessment of the progress made to date. Heavily illustrated with many colour photographs, the book allows best use to be made of the collective experience of minewater treatment practitioners throughout the UK, whilst at the same time placing the UK experience within a global context. An invaluable reference work for mining companies, consultants, planning officers, environmental research scientists, environmental agencies, water utilities and regulatory bodies, Minewater Treatment is a definitive source of information on minewater treatment technologies and will help facilitate the selection of the most appropriate technique required to tackle particular minewater discharge problems. Contents 1. The mine water problem 2. Treatment options 3. Existing sites in the UK: Case studies 4. Existing sites in the UK: Site summaries 5. Summary & conclusions

Abstract: A three-year study of ammonia removal from minewater was carried out employing constructed wetland systems (surface flow wetland and subsurface flow wetland cells) at the former Woolley Mine in West Yorkshire, UK The 1.4 Ha surface flow wetland (constructed in 1995) reduced the ammonia concentration from 3.5 – 4.5 mg l(-1) to < 2 3 mg V during the first half of the study and to essentially zero in the last year (2000 – 2001). About 25 % of contained ammonia was converted to nitrate, about 10 % was consumed by the plants and up to 30 % was converted to nitrogen gas. This maturation effect was attributed to increased depth of sludge from sedimentation of ochre, providing increased surface area for immobilisation of ammonia oxidising bacteria. The surface flow wetland finally removed 23 g m(-2) day(-1) ammonia in comparison with 3.8 g m(-2) day' for the subsurface flow (pea gravel) wetland cells, constructed for the present work and dosed with ammonium salts. Removal of ammonia by both systems was consistent with well-established mechanisms of nitrification and denitrification. It was also consistent with ammonia removal in wastewater wetland systems, although the greater aeration in the minewater systems obviated the need for special aeration cycles. The general role of wetland plants in such aerated conditions was attributed to maintaining hydraulic conditions (such as hydraulic efficiency and hydraulic resistance of substratum in subsurface flow systems) in the wetlands and providing a suspended solids filter for minewater.

Abstract: Eisendisulfidminerale im Abraum von Braunkohlentagebauen können nach ihrer Verwitterung im wiederaufsteigenden Grundwasser erhebliche Güteverschlechterungen hinsichtlich pH-Wert, Schwermetall- und Sulfatgehalt verursachen. Diesen kann durch Zusätze alkalischer Substanzen zum Abraum wie Kalkstein, Dolomit und Kraftwerksasche bzw. Gemischen dieser Stoffe entgegengewirkt werden. Die Ergebnisse entsprechender Untersuchungen sowie die naturwissenschaftlichen Grundlagen der Eisendisulfidverwitterung werden im Beitrag dargestellt und ein Anwendungsbeispiel beschrieben. Grundlagen zur Berechnung der einzusetzenden Kalk- oder Aschemengen (bzw. Gemische der beiden Substanzen) sind die Bestimmung der oxidierbaren Sulfidminerale in den einzelnen geologischen Schichten sowie die Bestimmung der Pufferkapazität der Asche bzw. des Kalksteins. Besonders Vorteilhaft ist der Einsatz alkalischer Substanzen dort, wo durch vorhandene hohe Pyrit- und Markasitkonzentrationen mit einer erheblichen Versauerung des Grundwassers gerechnet und dadurch eine potentielle Beeinträchtigung von Grundwassernutzern erwartet werden muss. Solche Bedingungen sind im Rheinischen Braunkohlerevier, insbesondere im Umfeld des Tagebaus Garzweiler II (RWE Rheinbraun AG) gegeben. Derzeit werden im Tagebau Garzweiler bereits 40000 t Kalkstein dem Abraum beigemischt. Auch für das Lausitzer Braunkohlenrevier könnte ein Einsatz alkalischer Substanzen in Betracht gezogen werden.