Long-term removal and retention of iron and manganese from acidic mine drainage by wetlands. Volume 1. Methods, results, and appendices. Final report, July 1987-January 1990

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6673559

Brooks, R P; Unz, R F; Davis, L K; Tarutis, W J; Yanchunas, J

A promising low-technology solution for treating acidic mine drainage (AMD) emanating from coal mined lands involves the use of constructed wetlands. The research was directed at addressing questions about retention mechanisms for the long-term storage of iron and manganese in constructed wetlands dominated by broad-leaved cattails (Typha latifolia). Three sites in central Pennsylvania spanning the range of water chemistry parameters found in AMD were investigated. When the AMD was circumneutral, and metal loadings were low, 79% of the iron, and 48% of the manganese were retained on average. In the highly acidic site (pH approx. = 3), < 10% of the metal loadings were retained. The primary retention mechanism appears to be the formation of metal oxides in the aerobic zones of the sediments. Although most microbial isolates extracted from sediment cores originated in the aerobic portions of the sediments, there was no evidence that they were transforming metals. When AMD is circumneutral and metal loadings are low, constructed wetlands can be an effective approach to treating mine drainage. At sites with highly acidic waters and high metal loadings, the use of constructed wetlands to treat AMD may be ineffectual, and should be implemented with caution.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (USA). Environmental Resources Research Inst.
• OSTI ID: 6673559
• Report Number(s): PB-90-229899/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800* -- Coal
Lignite
&amp; Peat-- Waste Management
ADSORPTION
AEROBIC CONDITIONS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CATTAILS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
COAL MINING
CONSTRAINTS
CONSTRUCTION
CONTROL
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION III
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IRON
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON OXIDES
LILIOPSIDA
LIQUID WASTES
LOADING RATE
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MANGANESE
MANGANESE COMPOUNDS
MANGANESE OXIDES
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
MINE DRAINING
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PENNSYLVANIA
PERFORMANCE
PH VALUE
PLANTS
POLLUTION CONTROL
PROGRESS REPORT
REMOVAL
SORPTION
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WATER TREATMENT
WETLANDS