Full-scale field trials of a bactericidal treatment to control acid mine drainage

Conference · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5340615

Kleinmann, R L.P.; Erickson, P M

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is one of several anionic detergents known to be effective in inhibiting the iron-oxidizing bacterium, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Since T. ferrooxidans plays a critical role in determining the rate of pyrite oxidation, the Bureau of Mines has investigated the use of SLS as a method to control the formation of acid mine drainage. In previously reported pilot-scale tests, the detergent successfully controlled T. ferrooxidans and thereby reduced acid production 60-90 pct. During the past year, the Bureau of Mines has conducted five full-scale field trials at active and abandoned surface mines and coal refuse piles. The first of these field tests was at a ten acre inactive refuse pile near Beckley, West Virginia. After a three month lag period, average acidity decreased from 900 mg/l to 350 mg/l and iron decreased from over 100 mg/l to 2 mg/l. An eight acre active section of a large refuse pile was treated similarly; acidity and sulfate decreased from over 4000 mg/l to less than 100 mg/l and iron decreased from 1000 mg/l to 2 mg/l or less. At both sites, a single application was effective for about 4 months. Our other field tests have been at active and abandoned surface mines in Ohio and East Virginia. At two of the sites, SLS was applied both as a solution and in slow release rubber pellets; the latter are an attempt to provide long term control of acid drainage from inactive sites where periodic reapplication would not be feasible.

• Research Organization: Dept. of the Interior, Pittsburgh, PA
• OSTI ID: 5340615
• Report Number(s): CONF-821175-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
012000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BACILLUS
BACTERIA
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL MINING
CONTROL
ESTERS
FEDERAL REGION III
FEDERAL REGION V
FIELD TESTS
INHIBITION
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
MICROORGANISMS
MINERALS
MINING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
OHIO
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
PYRITE
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SULFIDE MINERALS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR-OXIDIZING BACTERIA
SULFURIC ACID ESTERS
SURFACE MINING
TESTING
THIOBACILLUS FERROXIDANS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
US BUREAU OF MINES
US DOI
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WEST VIRGINIA