Passive treatment of acid drainage waters from coal piles

摘要

Acid drainage waters from rich-in-pyrite coal piles were treated under pilot-scale conditions by means of a unit consisting of two-alkalinity producing and sulphate-reducing anoxic cells arranged in series. The cells contained organic substrate mixed with ground limestone and a consortium of interdependent microorganisms. The bacterial dissimilatory sulphate reduction was the main water clean-up process in the cells.