Abstract: Lime neutralisation for the treatment of acid mine drainage is one of the oldest water pollution control techniques practised by the mineral industry. Several advances have been made in the process in the last thirty years, particularly with respect to discharge concentrations and sludge density. However, the impact of different treatment processes on metal leachability and sludge handling properties has not been investigated. A study of treatment sludges sampled from various water treatment plants has shown that substantial differences can be related to the treatment process and raw water composition. This study suggests that sludge densities, excess alkalinity, long-term compaction properties, metal leachability, crystallinity and cost efficiency can be affected by the neutralisation process and specific process parameters. The study also showed that the sludge density and dewatering ability is not positively correlated with particle size as previously suggested in numerous studies. The treatment process comparisons include sludge samples from basic lime treatment, the conventional High Density Sludge (HDS) Process, and the Geco HDS Process.

Abstract: Fisher Creek, a stream affected by acid mine drainage in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana, was studied to determine the extent to which copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) would be removed from stream water when pH was increased by a pulse of sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Although the pH adjustment study indicated that precipitated Fe(OH) “SUB 3” (am) could rapidly remove Cu and Zn from a stream affected by acid mine drainage, the pH should be maintained in an optimal range (7 to 8.5) to maximize removal by adsorption. -from Authors