Accelerated recovery of acid strip-mine lakes

Book · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1971

OSTI ID:5663548

Decker, C S

Accelerated biological recovery by the addition of measured amounts of sewage sludge was mediated by mirobial sulfate reduction. The product of sulfate reduction was the sulfide (S/sup -2/) ion which provided the means for ultimate removal of mineral acidity from the laboratory microcosms. The anaerobic conditions caused the reduction of the ferric ion to l was accomplished. Algal production, greatly stimulated by sludge addition, can be maintained at relatively low pH values with nutrients, contained in the sludge. Algal utilization of respiratory carbon dioxide provided an important means of carbon capture for reuse as a sulfate reducing bacteria energy source to continue recovery or absorb additional acid inflow. Algal photosynthetic oxygen production caused regression in recovery. Algal produced oxygen also can reoxidize precipitated FeS if anaerobic conditions are overcome on the bottom areas. A limiting factor in natural recovery of acid strip-mine lakes is the limited ability of spoil bank areas to provide allochthonous organic materials for sulfate reducing bacteria. Development of a carbonate-bicarbonate alkalinity system in acid strip-mine water occurs when sulfite reducing bacteria consume additional sulfate beyond that associated with mineral acidity. Advantages over other forms of abatement are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 5663548
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320604 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Municipal Waste Management-- (1980-)
520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560303 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
ACID SULFATES
ACIDIFICATION
ADSORBENTS
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BIOADSORBENTS
BIOCONVERSION
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
COAL MINING
CONTROL
DIGESTION
ECONOMICS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IRON COMPOUNDS
LAKES
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MICROCOSMS
MINING
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION CONTROL
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SLUDGES
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE MINING
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WATER RECLAMATION