Performance of passive systems for mine drainage treatment at low temperature and high salinity: A review

Ali, Houssem E. Ben; Neculita, Carmen Mihaela; Molson, John; Maqsoud, Abdelkabir; Zagury, Gérald J.

doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2019.02.010

Cited by 37 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 163 publications

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“…A review was conducted on the use of passive treatment systems in treating high salinity mine drainage in cold regions (Ben Ali, Neculita, Molson, Maqsoud, & Zagury, 2019). Mine drainage quality and the type of treatment systems determined metal removal mechanisms including precipitation, co-precipitation, and sorption depending on such factors as low temperature and salinity levels.…”

Section: Passive Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mine drainage: Remediation technology and resource recovery

Viadero

Zhang

et al. 2020

Water Environment Research

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Drainage from current and historic mining operations remains a persistent environmental problem. Numerous research and development efforts were made in 2019 with a goal to minimize the impact of mine drainage on the environment, while other research endeavors addressed the mine drainage issue from a different perspective, where mine drainage was considered a resource for water and valuable products, such as metals, sulfuric acid, and rare earth elements. Thus, this review has two main sections: (a) focusing on research efforts in mine drainage remediation technology, and (b) emphasizing advances in resource recovery from mine drainage. The first section covers traditional and emerging passive and active treatment technologies. The second section summarizes resource recovery efforts using various technologies, such as selective precipitation, membrane process, and biological systems.

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Section: Passive Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mine drainage: Remediation technology and resource recovery

Viadero

Zhang

et al. 2020

Water Environment Research

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“…Associated impacts include elevated cancer risks and deaths resulting from exposure to radioactive compounds and the dissolved hazardous metals associated with AMD. The lowered pH levels and increased sulphate (SO 4 ), salt and metal content of AMD contaminate surface water and groundwater resources which, in turn, have an impact on aquatic life and soil properties [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Active remediation involves the addition of alkaline materials, elevating the pH of the AMD and reducing the metal content through absorption, precipitation or coprecipitation. Generally, active treatments are linked to high capital costs for power resources and intensive labour requirements for its longterm maintenance [2,5,[11][12][13]. Passive treatment systems are dependent on biological, geochemical, and physical processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Alternative Supporting Organic Materials for the Enhancement of Water Reuse in Subsurface Constructed Wetlands Receiving Acid Mine Drainage

et al. 2022

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Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a global problem with severe consequences for the environment. South Africa’s abandoned mines are a legacy from the country’s economic dependence on the mining sector, with consequent negative impacts on ecosystems. AMD remediation includes active and passive techniques. Constructed wetlands (a passive technique) have lower operational costs but require larger spaces and longer timeframes to achieve the remediation of AMD, and are supported by anaerobic sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB), which capable of remediating high-sulphate-laden AMD while precipitating dissolved metals from the AMD. Organic substrates supporting these activities are often the limiting factor. When enhancing existing passive AMD remediation technologies, alternative waste material research that may support SRB activity is required to support the circular economy through the reduction in waste products. Chicken feathers show potential as a substrate enhancer, boosting organic carbon availability to SRB, which sustains passive AMD treatment processes by achieving pH elevation, sulphate and metal reductions in AMD water for reuse. Microbial biodiversity is essential to ensure the longevity of passive treatment systems, and chicken feathers are proven to have an association with SRB microbial taxa. However, the longer-term associations between the AMD water parameters, microbial diversity and the selected substrates remain to be further investigated.

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“…AMD is characterized by a low pH and elevated concentrations of metal elements [3,4]. AMD can be treated using either active or passive water treatment systems [5][6][7]. However, because of the large volumes of waste, AMD could continue to be generated for several tenths or hundreds of years [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Valorisation of Partially Oxidized Tailings in a Cover System to Reclaim an Old Acid Generating Mine Site

et al. 2021

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The reclamation of acid-generating mine tailings typically involves building cover systems to limit interactions with water or oxygen. The choice of cover materials is critical to ensure long-term performance, and partly determines the environmental footprint of the reclamation strategy. The objective of this research was to evaluate if tailings pre-oxidized on-site could be used in cover systems. Column experiments were performed to assess the effectiveness of a cover with capillary barrier effects (CCBE), where the moisture retention layer (MRL) was made of pre-oxidized tailings with little to no remaining sulfides (LS tailings). The columns were submitted to regular wetting and drying cycles, and their hydrological and geochemical behaviour was monitored for 510 days. The LS tailings showed satisfying hydrological properties as an MRL and remained saturated throughout the test. The concentrations of Cu in the drainage decreased by more than two orders of magnitude compared to non-covered tailings. In addition, the pH increased by nearly one unit compared to the control column, and Fe and S concentrations decreased by around 50%. Despite these improvements, the leachate water remained acidic and contaminated, indicating that acid drainage continued to be generated despite a hydrologically efficient CCBE.

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Performance of passive systems for mine drainage treatment at low temperature and high salinity: A review

Cited by 37 publications

References 163 publications

Mine drainage: Remediation technology and resource recovery

Mine drainage: Remediation technology and resource recovery

Assessing Alternative Supporting Organic Materials for the Enhancement of Water Reuse in Subsurface Constructed Wetlands Receiving Acid Mine Drainage

Valorisation of Partially Oxidized Tailings in a Cover System to Reclaim an Old Acid Generating Mine Site

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