Removal of iron from acid mine drainage by Sphagnum peat: results from experimental laboratory microcosms

Conference · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5400996

Tarleton, A L; Lang, G E; Wieder, R K

Previous field investigations have shown that a Sphagnum-dominated wetland had the potential to chemically modify acid mine drainage (AMD). The authors objective was to assess the relative importance of the mechanisms by which peat removes iron from inputs of AMD water. These mechanisms include the formation of organically bound iron, iron oxides, and iron sulfides. Experimental microcosms were filled with one of 3 different types of peat. The authors compared the effectiveness of the 3 peat types using one source of AMD. Variability in the data prevented any conclusive ranking of the peats with regard to their effectiveness for removing iron. Peat from Big Run Bog was subjected to all 4 sources of AMD. Linear regressions revealed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in total iron (r/sup 2/ = 0.80) and organically bound iron (r/sup 2/ = 0.95) in the peat as a function of total iron added during the experiment. The formation of organically bound iron represented the principal manner in which iron is removed from solution by Sphagnum peat.

• Research Organization: West Virginia Univ., Morgantown
• OSTI ID: 5400996
• Report Number(s): CONF-841204-
• 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
&amp; Peat-- Waste Management
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
CHALCOGENIDES
COAL MINING
CONTROL
DATA
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
INFORMATION
IRON
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON OXIDES
IRON SULFIDES
METALS
MICROCOSMS
MINING
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC MATTER
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEAT
POLLUTION CONTROL
REMOVAL
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WETLANDS