Ecological Benefits of Passive Wetland Treatment Systems Designed for Acid Mine Drainage: With Emphasis on Watershed Restoration

E. C. Mccleary; D. A. Kepler

doi:10.21000/jasmr94030111

Selection of organic materials potentially used to enhance bioremediation of acid mine drainage

Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management ◽

10.15243/jdmlm.2021.083.2779 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 2779-2789

Author(s):

Fitri Arum Sekarjannah ◽

M Mansur ◽

Zaenal Abidin

Keyword(s):

Acid Mine Drainage ◽

Active Treatment ◽

Organic Materials ◽

Mine Drainage ◽

Passive Treatment ◽

Growth Media ◽

Acid Mine ◽

Wetland Treatment ◽

Wetland System ◽

Selection Of

Acid mine drainage (AMD), produced when sulfide minerals are subjected to oxygen and water, is one of the major issues in mining industries. Without proper management, AMD's release to the environment would cause seriously prolonged environmental and health issues, such as increases soil acidity and reduces water quality due to extremely low pH, high sulphate concentration, and heavy metal solubility. AMD treatments are divided into two categories, i.e., active treatment, conducted by applying a chemical to the AMD to neutralize pH and precipitate heavy metals; and passive treatment, which relies on biological and biochemical processes. The active treatment may provide an immediate effect, but costly and yet sustainable; meanwhile, passive treatment takes time to establish and to generate an effect, but it is more economical, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. The wetland system is an example of passive treatment. Therefore, this review focuses on passive treatments, especially the selection of organic materials used in constructed AMD wetland treatment. Organic materials play a central role in the wetland system, i.e., to chelate metal ions, remove sulphate from the solution, increase pH, and growth media for microbes, especially sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) and plants are grown in the system. Overall, organic materials determine the effectiveness of the wetland system to neutralize AMD passively and sustainably.

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Aquatic Plants for Acid Mine Drainage Remediation in Simulated Wetland Systems

Jurnal Natur Indonesia ◽

10.31258/jnat.13.3.244-249 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 244

Author(s):

Ali Munawar ◽

Farkhruddin Okte Leitu ◽

Hendri Bustamam

Keyword(s):

Acid Mine Drainage ◽

Plant Species ◽

Aquatic Plants ◽

Aquatic Plant ◽

Mine Drainage ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Growth Media ◽

Organic Substrates ◽

Acid Mine ◽

Wetland Treatment

Aquatic plant is an important component of a constructed wetland system for treating acid mine drainage (AMD).This study was conducted to investigate the remediation effects of planting three aquatic plants species on AMDquality in simulated wetland systems. Simulated wetland systems were constructed using 10-L plastic containersas growth media comprising mixed-organic substrates and aquatic plant species as planting treatments. Thetreatments involved individual plantings with Fimbristilys hispidula (Vahl) Konth, Mariscus compactus (Retz) Druce,and Typha angustifolia L., and mixed-planting with a combined three-plant species. As the control was the unplantedmedia. The plants were continuously flooded with very acidic AMD collected from a mine pit in PT TambangBatubara Bukit Asam, South Sumatra. During the experiment, the acidity (pH), oxidation reduction potential (Eh),and electrical conductivity (EC) of the flooding AMD were measured after 24 hours of the flooding, and thenbiweekly until the plants entered their reproductive stage. To estimate Fe removed by plants, AMD samples weretaken from both planted and unplanted systems for total dissolved Fe analyses. The data revealed some remediationeffects of planting aquatic plants on AMD in the wetland treatment systems. The presence of plants in the wetlandsystem appeared to induce oxygen diffusion to surrounding roots, which might result in Fe precipitation on rootsurface. Although no differences among planting treatments, Fe removals by plants highly correlated (R2=0.92)with the production of plant biomass.

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Floating Wetland Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage using Eichhornia crassipes (Water Hyacinth)

Journal of Health and Pollution ◽

10.5696/2156-9614-8.17.14 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (17) ◽

pp. 14-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Chandimal Randunu Palihakkara ◽

Sandun Dassanayake ◽

Chulantha Jayawardena ◽

Indishe Prabath Senanayake

Keyword(s):

Acid Mine Drainage ◽

Water Hyacinth ◽

Eichhornia Crassipes ◽

Mine Drainage ◽

Substantial Reduction ◽

Mining Industry ◽

Treatment Wetland ◽

Significant Discrepancy ◽

Acid Mine ◽

Wetland Treatment

Background. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major environmental impact associated with the mining industry. Elevated acidic conditions resulting from the discharge of AMD into the surrounding environment can cause heavy metals to dissolve and transport through water streams and accumulate in the aquatic environment, posing a risk to the health of living organisms. There have been several novel approaches in the remediation of AMD involving passive treatment techniques. The constructed treatment wetland approach is a passive remediation option that has proven to be a cost effective and long-lasting solution in abating toxic pollutant concentrations. Objectives. The present study investigates the applicability of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), a tropical aquatic plant with reported heavy metal hyper-accumulation in microcosm floating wetland treatment systems designed to remediate AMD with copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations exceeding threshold limits. Methods. Twelve water hyacinth samples were prepared with varying concentrations of Cu (1 mg/L, 2 mg/L, 4 mg/L) and Cd (0.005 mg/L, 0.01 mg/L, 0.02 mg/L). Water samples of 5 ml each were collected from each sample at 24-hour intervals for analysis with an atomic absorption spectrometer. Results. Plant growth varied according to Cu and Cd concentrations and no plants survived for more than 14 days. There was a significant discrepancy in the rate at which the Cd concentrations abated. The rate of reduction was rapid for higher concentrations and after 24 hours a substantial reduction was achieved. There was a reduction in Cu concentration after the first 24-hour period, and after the next 24-hour period the concentrations were again elevated in the samples at initial concentrations of 2 mg/L and A4 mg/L. 4 mg/L Cu concentration was shown to be toxic to the plants, as they had low accumulations and rapid dying was evident. Conclusions. Water hyacinth has the capability to reduce both Cu and Cd concentrations, except at an initial concentration of 4 mg/L of Cu, which was toxic to the plants. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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