The Use of Waste Materials in the Passive Remediation of Mine Water Polution

The contamination and resulting degradation of water coursesby effluents from abandoned and active mines is a world-wideproblem. Traditional methods of remediating the dischargesfrom mines involve the addition of chemicals and the utilisationof artificial energy sources. Over the last 15–20 years passivetreatment systems have been developed that harness naturalchemical and biological processes to ameliorate the potentiallytoxic effects of such discharges. There are many different typesof passive system, including compost wetlands, reducing andalkalinity producing systems (RAPS), permeable reactive barriersand inorganic media passive systems. Different waste materialscan be utilised as reactive media within each of these systems,dependent upon the type of mine water and treatment technology.In many cases the reactivity of these recycled waste materialsis key to the remedial performance of these systems. The materialsused may be organic (e.g., composts) or inorganic (e.g., blast furnaceslag) and where possible are sourced locally in order to minimisetransport costs. The remediation of mine waters in itself canproduce large quantities of waste products in the form of ironoxide sludge. Potential uses of this material in the productionof pigments and in the treatment of phosphate contaminatedwaters is also currently under investigation. The exploitation of what are traditionallythought of as waste materials within treatmentsystems for polluted waters is an expandingtechnology which provides great scope for recycling.