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Pilot-Scale Treatment of Virginia Canyon Mine Drainage in Idaho Springs, Colorado, USA Using Octolig®
Citation:
Butler, B. Pilot-Scale Treatment of Virginia Canyon Mine Drainage in Idaho Springs, Colorado, USA Using Octolig®. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-14/249, 2014.
Impact/Purpose:
This report presents the methods and results from a pilot study conducted by Arcadis to treat mine drainage from the Virginia Canyon in Idaho Springs, CO using the Octolig® adsorption technology. Additionally, discussion regarding the feasibility of recycling the waste stream is presented, much of it based on correspondence between recyclers and Arcadis.
Description:
Water quality data from the pilot study are compared to the specific project objectives to evaluate performance of the treatment technology relative to the needs of EPA Region 8. Project objectives included meeting site-specific water quality criteria for Al, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn; attaining 90% or greater removal rates Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn; having sludge volumes of at least 30% less than traditional chemical treatments; and evaluating potential reuse of metals removed. The chronic water quality criterion for Pb was met on all dates except 4/16/12 and the Virginia Canyon drainage itself met the acute criterion for Pb. The chronic criterion for Al was met only on 4/5/12. Neither acute nor chronic criteria were met for Cd, Cu, or Zn on any date. The best percentages of metals removed (> 90%) were achieved during the first week of sampling, with decreasing and inconsistent removal observed over time. Sludge production was about 62% (by mass) less than that which was estimated to be produced by lime treatment of the same water. Based on response of recyclers surveyed, the waste stream containing concentrated metals removed from the Virginia Canyon mine drainage is not able to be economically recycled, mostly due to the solution not containing high enough concentrations of valuable metals. The estimated costs for scale-up of the system indicated both capital and operating and maintenance costs were greater than costs associated with a traditional lime treatment.