Iron and Sulfate Removal in Highly Contaminated Acid Mine Drainage Using Passive Multi-Step Systems

摘要

Remediation of high Fe and SO_4(2-)acid mine drainage (AMD) with passive multi-step systems is less prone to clogging, but could show variable efficiency. Hence, four scenarios (MS_1 to MS_4) of passive multi-step treatment systems were tested. The system (MS_3) composed of two pretreatment units of dispersed alkaline substrate reactors and one unit of passive biochemical reactor was found the most efficient (Fe and SO_4~(2-) removal of 99% and 77%, respectively). Clogging issues were not encountered in all reactors. Nonetheless, further studies on the treatment of highly contaminated Feand SO_4~(2-)AMD with other dissolved metals should be undertaken.