Special topic in mining engineeringii mn392 assignment1 issues of acid mine drainage and its remedial measures submitted by satyabrata nayak 1mn0487 2. Some or all of this iron can precipitate to form the red, orange, or yellow sediments in the bottom of streams containing mine drainage. Solid phases obtained in a stepbystep sequential essay. Problems that can be associated with mine drainage include contaminated drinking water, disrupted growth and reproduction of aquatic plants and animals, and the corroding effects of the acid on parts of infrastructures such as bridges.
The simplest treatment is neutralization and clarification. Usda is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Amd comes mainly from abandoned coal mines and currently active mining. Acid mine drainage in pennsylvania acid mine drainage is the biggest. To file a complaint of discrimination, write usda, director, office of civil rights, room 326w, whitten building, 14th and independence avenue, sw, washington, dc 202509410 or call 202 7205964 voice or tdd. The problem of acid mine drainage amd has been present since mining activity began thousands of years ago. Treated water running into a lake at a acid mine drainage plant near krugersdorp.
This paper describes acid mine drainage amd generation and its associated pollution. Thanks to the international veolia group, veolia water technologies south africa is able to supply a costcompetitive acid mine drainage treatment system that can reduce the impact of mining on the environment. Acid mine drainage is caused by both abandoned mines and mines in current excavation. Acid mine drainage research acid mine drainage amd has been the subject of intensive research since the 1960s. Bioremediation of acid mine drainage coupled with domestic. Small particles of iron ferric hydroxide then form in the solution, which drop out of the water to create what is known as ochre. Effective treatment options for acid mine drainage in the. Treatment of acid mine drainage has in many cases proved economically.
New logics v sep has the ability to perform membrane separations not possible using conventional membrane systems. Wastewater treatment systems that are compact, economical, and reliable are now possible for the mining industry. Download tds821 acid mine drainage water treatment pdf. The first step in the acid mine drainage flowsheet is decarbonation. Passive treatment of acidmine drainage vtechworks virginia. The microbiology of acid mine drainage by jim taylor, p. Acid mine drainage results when surface and ground water combine with sulfuric rock from the mines, causing a sulfuric acid.
Most discussions on acid mine drainage refer to the physical process of oxidation while the role of microorganisms is left unnoticed. When appropriately designed and maintained, passive systems can provide longterm, efficient, and effective treatment for many acid mine drainage amd sources. The major areas of research on amd are prediction of amd and preventionmitigation. Chemical treatment of acid mine drainage anna gulkova, water and environmental engineering, aalto university 1.
When the acid forming minerals do not contain significant quantities of iron, the acidic waters do not have the orange coloration pictured here. 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. The sludges obtained by the treatment of mine water through this threestage system, could have the following usages. When sulphidepyretic minerals are exposed to the atmosphere, in presence of water oxidation of sul. This is a natural chemical reaction which can proceed. Review of passive systems for acid mine drainage treatment. Acid mine drainage abatement and treatment plans odnr mineral. January 1996 acid mine drainage is a common problem in many parts of the country, originating from hardrock mines, strip mines or tailing piles. Acid mine drainage earth sciences bibliographies in harvard style. Acid mine drainage overview acid rock drainage ard is produced by the oxidation of sulfide minerals, chiefly iron pyrite or iron disulfide fes2. 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. At a minimum, this work will be completed two times per year for the north pump station.
Upgradient of mined areas, water with low mineral acidity can be treated. The following is an overview of information on some major. Acid mine drainage prevention and control options nural kuyucak golder associates ltd. Mine drainage is formed when pyrite an iron sulfide is exposed and reacts with air and water to form sulfuric acid and dissolved iron.
Available acid mine drainage remediation options johnson, et al. Acid mine drainage, rock drainage, and acid sulfate soils. The use of corrective techniques is only justified for the most serious and unforeseen cases of acid water pollution. Description of the buffering capacity of the original acid mine lake water 90. Acid mine drainage a description of acid mine drainage amd and the reevesdale south dip tunnel reclamation project. In the uk, many of the coalfields contain a significant amount of limestone which counterbalances much of this acidity, resulting in a typical neutral mine water.
Passive treatment of acidmine drainage virginia tech. This has allowed iron, found in the rocks within mine workings, to mix with underground water. The acid runoff further dissolves heavy metals such as copper, lead, and mercury into groundwater or. 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. Conventional treatment of acid mine drainage amo involves the addition of costly alkaline chemicals, which neutralize acidity and raise ph, causing the metals to precipitate in settling ponds.
Passive treatment is most suitable for small to moderate amd discharges of. Amd causes severe environmental impacts, particularly on soil. Coal waste water treatment video coal waste water treatment video. Acid mine drainage, ion exchange, heavy metal, copper, removal, factorial design of experiments 1. This acid leaches out metals in the rock, which can enter nearby. Amd is caused when water flows over or through sulfurbearing materials forming solutions of net acidity.
Technology data sheet tds821 acid mine drainage water treatment global advantech limited exceptional clean technologies for a sustainable future energy house, 14 maurice close, kimbolton. Ebook or pdf edited book email encyclopedia article govt. Use of fly ash for treatment of amd affected waters. Treatment of acid mine lakes lab and field studies tu freiberg. Contents 20180327 220 acid mine drainage formation problems associated with acid mine drainage treatment methods neutralization neutralization with polishing treatment. Acid rock drainage and acid mine drainage acid rock drainage ard is a natural process in which sulfuric acid is produced when sulfides in rocksfor example, pyrite fes 2 are exposed to air and water. 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. As such, it is critical that chemical usage be optimized. Acid mine drainage amd is the flow, or seepage, of polluted water from old mining areas.
A northeast acid mine drainage amd treatment facility was using calcium hydroxide lime to. Process of acid mine drainage geochemical and microbial reactions during weathering of sulfide minerals pyrite in coal, refuse, or mine overburden oxidation of sulfide minerals in the presence of air, water, and bacteria formation of sulfuric acid and increase in acidity solubilization of metals due to low ph 5. Acid mine water drainage debating a sustainable solution. As this mine water reaches the surface it comes into contact with the air. The ideal neutralization first combines one of the reactants with previously precipitated solids. Acid mine drainage in south africa has become a major concern for the countrys water infrastructure over recent years. Coal mine water is treated by lime and i show the process of how it is done in the video. 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.
Chemicals and costs find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Passive amd treatment relies on natural processes to neutralize acidity and to oxidize or reduce and precipitate metal contaminants. Innovative treatment technologies notice this document was prepared by a national network of environmental management studies grantee under a fellowship from the u. Acid mine drainage treatment westech engineering, inc. Abandoned mine site characterization and cleanup handbook.
Treating acid mine drainage from abandoned mines in. Acid mine drainage amd refers to the outflow of acidic water. The use of constructed wetlands in the treatment of acid mine drainage. Acid mine drainage amd is currently the main pollutant of surface water in the midatlantic region. Removal of copper ions from acid mine drainage wastewater. The formation of acid mine drainage and the contaminants associated with it have been described as the largest environmental problem facing the u.
Skousen and others published acid mine drainage treatment systems. Treating acid mine drainage from abandoned mines in remote areas john j. Understanding mine water treatment mine water, acid mine drainage and ochre as coal mining in the uk has reduced, some arrangements to pump water out of the mines have stopped. Pdf acid mine drainage formation, control and treatment. Pdf acid mine drainage control and treatment researchgate. Mine drainage is metalrich water formed from a chemical reaction between water and rocks containing sulfurbearing minerals. In many cases, chemical consumption is the number one operating cost of an acid mine drainage treatment system. This is largely due to the high efficiency in removing dissolved metals through neutralisation, combined with the fact that lime costs are low in comparison to alternatives. Usps acid mine drainage program is a successful, cost effective solution turnkey program reduced chemical expenses, solids, and energy costs. This occurs along outcrops or scree slopes where sulfidebearing rock is naturally weathered. Mass of fly ash grams sample 1 ph measurement before treatment after treatment run 1 2 4. During the earliest days of handbook development, mike bishop of epa region 8 lead the effort to develop a superfund mine waste reference document for epa project managers working on mine.
This may be the biggest challenge of all the unknown. Residents left in dark over acid mine drainage treatment. The sulfuric acid causes leaching of iron, manganese, lead, copper, zinc and cadmium from the rock it interacts with. Acid mine drainage treatment, east rand, south africa amd waters in the rio tinto, spain 3. Acid mine drainage solutions for the mineral industry. 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, 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. A bench scale evaluation of organic substrates for use in constructed wetlands for the treatment of acid mine drainage 1991 197432284. Techniques to correct and prevent acid mine drainage. Skousen and others published acid mine drainage control and treatment find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The abandoned mine site characterization and cleanup handbook handbook is the result of the collective efforts and contributions of a number of individuals. Its causes, treatment have become the focus of number of researchers. Acid mine drainage effects, types, plants, marine, oxygen. Fly ash for removal of contaminates from coal mine drainage.
Acid mine drainage prediction compares acid rock drainage factors of waste rock piles and tailings impoundments. Research efforts have proceeded recently through the acid drainage technology initiative. Typically, with acid mine water, there is a high amount of co 2 in the waste stream. The acid mine drainage waste is characterized by red water. Illustrated with dozens of photographs, charts, tables and maps, the book is a compendium of 36 scientific papers written by. Although many different biological and chemical technologies exist for treatment of acid mine drainage, lime neutralisation remains by far the most widely applied method. 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. Introduction acid mine drainage amd continues to be an important water pollution problem in mining industry around the world. Once amd is generated, it is difficult to control the process and the treatment also requires high cost aguiar et al. Sources of nonpoint source pollution acid mine drainage amd is currently the main pollutant of surface water in the midatlantic region. What is acid mine drainage amd, why is it such a serious threat to south africa and more importantly why has been it been silenced and kept under wraps by the mining industry and south african government for so long.
Zipper, extension specialist, crop and soil environmental sciences, virginia tech. This guidance document provides the framework for the acid mine drainage and. Acid mine drainage amd is a major problem all over the world, especially where coal and gold mine activities are common. Media in category acid mine drainage the following 51 files are in this category, out of 51 total. This paper describes acid mine drainage amd generation and its associated technical issues. Pdf acid mine drainage amd occurs after mining exposes metal sulfides to oxidizing conditions. The acid mine drainage amd is polluted water that normally contains sulfuric.
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