Mining activity has disrupted the hydrology of mining areas so badly that it is extremely difficult to predict where water would eventually reemerge. Acid mine drainage formation, control and treatment. When appropriately designed and maintained, passive systems can provide longterm, efficient, and effective treatment for many acid mine drainage amd sources. In examining this table, it is important to note that diffusion of oxygen into water is slow and, therefore, oxidation of iron sulfide is inhibited until the water level drops, which can occur periodically or seasonally in some cases. Acid mine drainage acid drainage occurs when minerals containing reduced forms of sulfur s oxidize via exposure to oxygen and water during earth disturbances figure 1. A northeast acid mine drainage amd treatment facility was using calcium hydroxide lime to. Amd is caused when water flows over or through sulfurbearing materials forming solutions of net acidity. Supergene alteration of the sulphide ore and the mine waste leads to the formation of efflorescence and generation of acid mine drainage amd filling the pitlakes. Acid mine drainage amd is a major problem all over the world, especially where coal and gold mine activities are common. As amd is recognized as one of the more serious environmental problems in the mining industry, its causes, prediction and treatment have become the focus of a number of research initiatives commissioned by governments, the mining industry, universities and research establishments, with additional. Using fes 2 as an example, amd for mation can be represented as follows.
Skousen national mine land reclamation center and west virginia university abstract acid mine drainage amd is often associated with mining of pyritic coal and metal deposits. Amd causes severe environmental impacts, particularly on soil. Acid mine drainage prediction compares acid rock drainage factors of waste rock piles and tailings impoundments. Acid drainage is often marked by yellow boy, an orangeyellow substance visible in the photo on this page that occurs when the ph of acidic mine. Skousen and others published acid mine drainage control and treatment find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Acid mine drainage, acid and metalliferous drainage amd, or acid rock drainage ard is the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines acid rock drainage occurs naturally within some environments as part of the rock weathering process but is exacerbated by largescale earth disturbances characteristic of mining and other large construction activities, usually within rocks. Treatment of acid mine drainage the problem of acid mine drainage amd has been present since mining activity began thousands of years ago. Typically, with acid mine water, there is a high amount of co 2 in the waste stream. The first step in the acid mine drainage flowsheet is decarbonation. Ming zhuang, tony walsh noram engineering and constructors ltd. Sulphate concentrations range from 4,600 to 4,850 mgl and from 35,900 to 38,500 mgl for the mathiatis and sha mines, respectively.
The formation of acid mine drainage amd, a highly acidic and metalrich solution, is the biggest environmental concern associated with coal and mineral mining. This paper describes acid mine drainage amd generation and its associated technical issues. Once amd is generated, it is difficult to control the process and the treatment also requires high cost aguiar et al. The production of broken waste rock and tailings by mining operations can expose large amounts of pyrite and other sulphides to the effects of water and oxygen. Individual mine closures have not resulted in massive. Acid mine drainage treatment with open limestone channels. Acid mine drainage can be released anywhere on the mine where sulfides are exposed to air and water including waste rock piles, tailings, open pits, underground tunnels, and leach pads. Hence, implementations of effective postmining management practices are. How acid mine drainage has affected the greater susquehanna valley region local story.
Specializes in the development and commercialization of chemical processes. Bioelectrochemical system bes is a promising technology for the simultaneous treatment of organic wastewater and recovery of metal ions from amd. Some or all of this iron can precipitate to form the red, orange, or yellow sediments in the bottom of streams containing mine drainage the acid runoff further dissolves heavy metals such as copper, lead, mercury into ground or surface water the rate and degree by which acidmine drainage proceeds can be increased by the action of certain. Pdf acid mine drainage formation, control and treatment. In coalmining areas, the most common of these minerals is iron pyrite fes 2.
The south african human rights commission acknowledges mariette liefferink and eugene viljoen for providing the photographs that appear in this booklet. Innovative treatment technologies october 2003 prepared by christine costello national network of environmental management studies fellow for u. As such, it is critical that chemical usage be optimized. Commonly referred to as acid rock drainage ard or acid mine drainage amd, acid drainage from mine waste rock, tailings, and mine structures such as pits and underground workings is primarily a function of the mineralogy of the rock material and the availability of water and oxygen. Acid mine drainage amd, characterized by a high concentration of heavy metals, poses a threat to the ecosystem and human health.
Different kinds of organic wastewater usually contain different predominant organic chemicals. Hellier, and members of the avoidance and remediation working group of the acid drainage technology initiative adti published by the national mine land reclamation center located at west virginia university in morgantown, west virginia june 1,1998. Passive treatment of acidmine drainage virginia tech. Developed the worlds leading technology for the manufacture. Recovery of rare earth elements rees from coal mine. Mariette is the ceo of the federation for a sustainable environment and was a member of the sahrc section 05 committee on human rights and acid mine drainage. Amd comes mainly from abandoned coal mines and currently active mining.
Once produced, amd can severely impact the surrounding ecosystem due to its acidity, metal toxicity, sedimentation and other deleterious properties. Acid mine drainage treatment westech engineering, inc. Usps acid mine drainage program is a successful, cost effective solution turnkey program reduced chemical expenses, solids, and energy costs. Development of an ree recovery industry around pre and postlaw mines will incentivize capture of these drainage sources, treatment of amd and discharge of. Approaches and strategies article pdf available in the extractive industries and society october 2018 with 1,781 reads how we measure reads. Innovative treatment technologies notice this document was prepared by a national network of environmental management studies grantee under a fellowship from the u. Effective treatment of acid mine drainage with microbial. Treatment of the pcb acid waste heavy metals removal from treated effluent improvement by continuous sludge removal e. Environmental protection agency office of solid waste and emergency response. Acid mine drainage amd is currently the main pollutant of surface water in the midatlantic region. Following the gold king mine release in august 2015, multiple federal, state, and local agencies believed it was important to identify inactive mine sites throughout the state that may pose a threat to water quality or physical and safety hazards. Passive amd treatment relies on natural processes to neutralize acidity and to oxidize or reduce and precipitate metal contaminants. Treatment of acid mine drainage harvard university.
Passive treatment is most suitable for small to moderate amd discharges of. Shamokin creek, northumberland county pa acid mine drainage can be defined as the overflow of acidic water from abandoned mines websters dictionary. It can be a byproduct from mining practices used to extract coal, copper, gold, silver, zinc, lead. Where such treatment is required legally, treatment must be efficient. The oxidation of sulphidic mine wastes and the consequent release of acid mine drainage and acid rock drainage, is one of the main strategic environmental issues facing the mining industry. Review of passive systems for acid mine drainage treatment. In many cases, chemical consumption is the number one operating cost of an acid mine drainage treatment system. Acid mine drainage treatment with open limestone channels paul f. The problem of acid mine drainage amd has been present since mining activity began thousands of years ago. Acid mine drainage is the second most important source of stream impairment in the appalachian basin.
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