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EVALUATION OF A TWO-STAGE PASSIVE TREATMENT APPROACH FOR MINING INFLUENCE WATERS
Citation:
FIGUEROA, L., A. MILLER, J. BOLIS, M. ZALUSKI, AND D. R. BLESS. EVALUATION OF A TWO-STAGE PASSIVE TREATMENT APPROACH FOR MINING INFLUENCE WATERS. Presented at National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Gillette, WY, June 02 - 07, 2007.
Impact/Purpose:
present information
Description:
A two-stage passive treatment approach was assessed at bench-scale using two Colorado Mining Influenced Waters (MIWs). The first-stage was a limestone drain with the purpose of removing iron and aluminum and mitigating the potential effects of mineral acidity. The second stage was a sulfate reducing bioreactor composed solely of 50% corn stover and 50% walnut shells by volume. The primary difference in the two MIWs was the concentration of zinc (5-10 vs 40-50 mg/L). Significant results include startup of sulfate reduction in both sets of bioreactors without the typical “manure” inocula. The time to start up was not negatively affected by the lack of a designated inocula. Another important result was the longer start up time required and the overall lower sulfate reduction observed for the higher zinc MIW.