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Mitchell, P. (2000). Silica micro encapsulation: An innovative commercial technology for the treatment of metal and radionuclide contamination in water and soil. Environmental Issues and Management of Waste in Energy and Mineral Production, , 307–314.
Abstract: Klean Earth Environmental Company (KEECO) has developed the Silica Micro Encapsulation (SME) technology to treat heavy metals and radionuclides in water and soil. Unlike conventional neutralization/precipitation methods, SME encapsulates the contaminants in a permanent silica matrix resistant to degradation under even extreme environmental conditions. Encapsulated metals and radionuclides are effectively immobilized, minimising the potential for environmental contamination and impacts on human or ecosystem health. The effectiveness of SME has been proven through independent reviews, laboratory and field trials and commercial contracts, and the technology can be used to control and prevent acid drainage and the transport of soluble metals from mine sites, tailings areas, landfills and industrial sites. Successful demonstrations in the treatment of sediments and in brownfield redevelopment, treatment of metal-finishing wastewaters, and control of hazardous, low-level, and mixed waste at DOE/DOD sites and commercial nuclear power plants have also been undertaken. This paper describes the reactions involved in the SME process, the methods by which SME chemicals are introduced to various media, and recent project applications relevant to the cost effective remediation and prevention of environmental problems arising from energy and mineral production.
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Jeffree, R. A. (2000). Rum Jungle mine site remediation: Relationship between changing water quality parameters and ecological recovery in the Finniss River system. ICARD 2000, Vols I and II, Proceedings, , 759–764.
Abstract: The Finniss River system in tropical northern Australia has received 'acid-drainage' contaminants from the Rum Jungle uranium/copper mine site over the past 4 decades. Following mine-site remediation that began in 1981-82 the annual contaminant loads of sulfate, Cu, Zn and Mn have declined by factors of 3, 7, 5 and 4, respectively over 1990-93, compared to the 1969-74 pre-remediation loads. Comparison of the frequency distributions of contaminant water concentrations over these pre- and post-remedial periods have shown varying degrees of reduction in the highest levels following mine-site remediation, that are consistent with reductions in their annual-cycle loads. Among the three selected major metal contaminants the reductions in maximum water concentrations are most pronounced for Cu. The demonstrated reductions in the highest water concentrations of all four contaminants are also associated with previously reported ecological improvement in the Finniss River system, compared to the benchmark of environmental detriment established in 1973/74, prior to the beginning of remediation at the mine site.
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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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Turek, M. (2000). Recovery of NaCl from saline mine water in the ED-MSF system. 8th World Salt Symposium, Vols 1 and 2, , 471–475.
Abstract: A considerable part of water obtained by drainage of Polish coal-mines is saline which creates substantial ecological problems. The load of salt (mainly sodium chloride) amounts to 5 min t/year. Despite the utilisation of saline coalmine waters is considered to be the most adequate method of solving ecological problems caused by this kind of water in Poland there are only two installations utilising coal-mine waters and producing 100,000 t salt per year. In the case of the most concentrated waters, the so-called coal-mine brines, the method of concentrating by evaporation in twelve-stage expansion installation or vapour compression is applied, after which sodium chloride is manufactured. In the case of low salinity waters they are preconcentrated first by RO method. High energy consumption in above-mentioned methods of evaporation is a considerable restriction in the utilisation of coal-mine brines. An obstacle in the application of low energy evaporation processes, e.g. multi-stage flash, is the high concentration of calcium and sulphate ions in the coal-mine waters.
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Smit, J. P. (2000). Potable water from sulphate polluted mine sources. Mining Environmental Management, 8(6), 7–9.
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