Influence of Acid Mine Drainage on Surface Water Quality

2018 ◽  
pp. 239-258
Author(s):  
M. Bálintová ◽  
E. Singovszká ◽  
M. Holub ◽  
Š. Demčák
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Surface Water Quality ◽  
Acid Mine

scholarly journals The influence of a high-density sludge acid mine drainage (AMD) chemical treatment plant on water quality along the Blesbokspruit Wetland, South Africa

Water SA ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1 January) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Lourenco ◽  
Chris Curtis
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Surface Water Quality ◽  
High Density ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Acid Mine

The Eastern Basin chemical acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment plant is one of the world’s largest high-density sludge (HDS) plants, and came into operation in August 2016. The plant is situated near the inoperative Grootvlei Mine in Springs, South Africa, and upstream of the Blesbokspruit Wetland, a former Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, now on the Montreux Record. Since being in operation it has had a major influence on surface water quality along the wetland area. The plant was constructed to mitigate the anticipated decant of AMD water from the abandoned Grootvlei Mine into the Blesbokspruit Wetland. Making use of the BACI (Before-After-Control-Impact) design, this study compares surface water quality of the Blesbokspruit upstream (control site) and downstream (impact site) of the treatment plant for 3-year periods before and after it came into operation. Quarterly water quality data (aluminium, ammonia, chloride, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, fluoride, iron, magnesium, manganese, nitrate, pH, phosphate, sodium and sulphate) from 2013–2019 were used for 5 historical Rand Water monitoring sites along the Blesbokspruit. The current HDS treatment process has negatively influenced conductivity, chloride, magnesium, sodium and sulphate levels downstream. Since the commissioning of the treatment plant, the levels of these parameters have increased significantly.  Notably, conductivity and sulphate have reached the management range defined as ‘unacceptable’ within the framework set out by the Blesbokspruit Forum (which is less stringent than the national guidelines for aquatic ecosystems), with potential impacts on salinization of the Vaal Barrage downstream. However, the significant reduction of iron, ammonia and phosphate concentrations downstream of the plant may be a combined beneficial effect of dilution by increased discharge from the plant and the wetland removing these contaminants. These results highlight the need for further research into possible secondary treatment and desalinisation mechanisms and the potential ecological and downstream water supply implications of increasing salinity within the area.

scholarly journals Recent developments in materials used for the removal of metal ions from acid mine drainage

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tebogo M. Mokgehle ◽  
Nikita T. Tavengwa
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Metal Ions ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Adsorption Capacities ◽  
Ion Imprinted ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ion Imprinted Polymers

AbstractAcid mine drainage is the reaction of surface water with sub-surface water located on sulfur bearing rocks, resulting in sulfuric acid. These highly acidic conditions result in leaching of non-biodegradeable heavy metals from rock which then accumulate in flora, posing a significant environmental hazard. Hence, reliable, cost effective remediation techniques are continuously sought after by researchers. A range of materials were examined as adsorbents in the extraction of heavy metal ions from acid mine drainage (AMD). However, these materials generally have moderate to poor adsorption capacities. To address this problem, researchers have recently turned to nano-sized materials to enhance the surface area of the adsorbent when in contact with the heavy metal solution. Lately, there have been developments in studying the surface chemistry of nano-engineered materials during adsorption, which involved alterations in the physical and chemical make-up of nanomaterials. The resultant surface engineered nanomaterials have been proven to show rapid adsorption rates and remarkable adsorption capacities for removal of a wide range of heavy metal contaminants in AMD compared to the unmodified nanomaterials. A brief overview of zeolites as adsorbents and the developent of nanosorbents to modernly applied magnetic sorbents and ion imprinted polymers will be discussed. This work provides researchers with thorough insight into the adsorption mechanism and performance of nanosorbents, and finds common ground between the past, present and future of these versatile materials.

scholarly journals Mining and Metal Pollution: Assessment of Water Quality in the Tarkwa Mining Area

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-31
Author(s):  
A. Ewusi ◽  
B. Y. Apeani ◽  
I. Ahenkorah ◽  
R. S. Nartey
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Metal Concentration ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
World Health ◽  
Hydrochemical Modelling ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Dug Well

The quality of water in mining communities is uncertain since metals associated with acid mine drainage are known to saturate these waters. Previous studies in Tarkwa, an area noted for gold and manganese extraction, have reported large concentrations of aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, manganese and mercury in water samples. This research aimed at investigating the chemistry of groundwater with special focus on the contamination status of trace elements. It also compared levels of metal concentration with those that were determined in previous research works, to identify changes that might have occurred. Thirty-eight water samples from boreholes, hand-dug wells and streams, within the Tarkwa area were obtained and analysed. Results show that 90 % of water in the area is acidic and Eh was determined to be positive, depicting oxidizing conditions. Mean groundwater temperature was 28.9 ºC. Thirty-two samples had either temperature or pH values falling outside the range recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Thirty samples had at least one metal concentration exceeding the WHO guideline values. Among the list of elements that exceeded the guideline, arsenic, manganese, nitrate, nitrite and iron were the most predominant. The dominant ions in the samples were sodium and bicarbonate. High concentrations of Fe and SO42- in some parts of the study area point to the influence of acid mine drainage (AMD). Comparisons of results of metal concentrations with findings from previous research in the area showed a reduction in concentration. Hydrochemical modelling with PhreeqC attributed this reduction to sorption processes. Comparison of levels of metal concentration in the different water supply facilities (borehole, hand-dug well and stream) showed no significant variations. Keywords: Water Quality, Drinking Water, Hydrochemical Modelling, Heavy Metals

Toxicological Analysis of Acid Mine Drainage by Water Quality and Land Use Bioassays

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soledad Chamorro ◽  
Carlos Barata ◽  
Benjamín Piña ◽  
Marta Casado ◽  
Alex Schwarz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Toxicological Analysis ◽  
Acid Mine
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