Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Treatment of acid mine drainage

Journal Article · · Ind. Wastes (Chicago); (United States)
OSTI ID:5466679
A process for neutralising acid mine drainage waters in a large Pennsylvanian coal mine operation is described. Lime slurry (hydrated lime for lower acidity and quicklime for higher acidity) at a concentration of 5% is added to maintain a pH of 8.0 to 9.5. Aeration oxidises ferrous iron to ferric iron, using 1 mg/l oxygen for each 14 mg/l ferrous iron. After the 15-30 min mixing and aeration, solids are coagulated with paddle wheels or turbine flocculators. The subsequent clarification process using an anionic polyelectrolyte (0.5 to 2.0 mg/l) collects the lime sludge and conveys it to a detention basin. Sludge is usually dumped into an abandoned mine.
OSTI ID:
5466679
Journal Information:
Ind. Wastes (Chicago); (United States), Journal Name: Ind. Wastes (Chicago); (United States) Vol. 27:2; ISSN INWAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English