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Berthelot, D., Haggis, M., Payne, R., McClarty, D., & Courtain, M. (1999). Application of water covers, remote monitoring and data management systems to environmental management at uranium tailings sites in the Serpent River Watershed. CIM Bull., 92(1033), 70–77.
Abstract: Over forty years of uranium mining in the Elliot lake region of Ontario (1956-1996) has resulted in the production of over 300 million pounds of uranium. With the completion of mining activity Rio Algom limited and Denison Mines limited are utilizing progressive environmental technologies and management systems to reduce and manage the environmental risks associated with the 150 million tonnes of potentially acid-generating tailings in nine regional waste management areas. Water covers designed to reduce oxygen entry and, thereby, significantly inhibit acid generation, have been applied at six of the sites with the Quirke site serving as a demonstration site for the Mine Environmental Neutral Drainage program, All five of Rio Algom limited's effluent treatment plants are monitored and controlled from a central control station utilizing a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system based on “Fix Dmacs” technology Scheduling, auditing and reporting of plant operating and environmental monitoring programs for the entire watershed are controlled utilizing the Regional Environmental Information Management System (REIMS). Proper application of these technologies and management systems facilitates delivery of cost-effective environmental monitoring, care and maintenance programs at these sites and provides tools to demonstrate compliance with all environmental performance criteria.
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Benner, S. G. (1999). Geochemistry of a permeable reactive barrier for metals and acid mine drainage. Environmental Science & Technology, 33(16), 2793–2799.
Abstract: A permeable reactive barrier, designed to remove metals and generate alkalinity by promoting sulfate reduction and metal sulfide precipitation, was installed in August 1995 into an aquifer containing effluent from mine tailings. Passage of groundwater through the barrier results in striking improvement in water quality. Dramatic changes in concentrations of SO4 (decrease of 2000-3000 mg/L), Fe (decrease of 270-1300 mg/L), trace metals (e.g., Ni decreases 30 mg/L), and alkalinity (increase of (800-2700 mg/L) are observed. Populations of sulfate reducing bacteria are 10 000 times greater, and bacterial activity, as measured by dehydrogenase activity, is 10 rimes higher within the barrier compared to the up-gradient aquifer. Dissolved sulfide concentrations increase by 0.2-120 mg/ L, and the isotope S-34 is enriched relative to S-32 in the dissolved phase SO42- within the barrier. Water chemistry, coupled with geochemical speciation modeling, indicates the pore water in the barrier becomes supersaturated with respect to amorphous Fe sulfide. Solid phase analysis of the reactive mixture indicates the accumulation of Fe monosulfide precipitates. Shifts in the saturation states of carbonate, sulfate, and sulfide minerals and most of the observed changes in water chemistry in the barrier and down-gradient aquifer can be attributed, either directly or indirectly, to bacterially mediated sulfate reduction.
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Wiessner, A. (1998). The treatment of a deposited lignite pyrolysis wastewater by adsorption using activated carbon and activated coke. Colloids and Surfaces a-Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 139(1), 91–97.
Abstract: To study the functions of activated carbon and activated coke adsorption for the treatment of highly contaminated discolored industrial wastewater with a wide molecular size distribution of organic compounds, the deposited lignite pyrolysis wastewater from a filled open-cast coal mine was used for continuous and discontinuous experiments.
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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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Stewart, D., Norman, T., Cordery-Cotter, S., Kleiner, R., Sweeney, E., & Nelson, J. D. (1997). Utilization of a ceramic membrane for acid mine drainage treatment. Tailings and Mine Waste '97, , 453–460.
Abstract: BASX Systems LLC has developed a treatment system based on ceramic membranes for the removal of heavy metals from an acid mine drainage stream. This stream also contained volatile organic compounds that were required to be removed prior to discharge to a Colorado mountain stream. The removal of heavy metals was greater than 99% in most cases. A decrease of 30% in chemicals required for treatment and a reduction by more than 75% in labor over a competing technology were achieved. These decreases were obtained for operating temperatures of less than 5 degrees C. This system of ceramic microfiltration is capable of treating many different types of acid mine waste streams for heavy metals removal.
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