A high surface area media treatment trial of a circum-neutral, net alkaline coal mine discharge in the South Derbyshire Coal Field (UK) using hydrous ferric oxide

摘要

In 2010, a trial using high surface area media, in the form of a SCOOFI (Surface Catalysed Oxidation of Ferrous Iron) system was undertaken for 12 months to assess the effectiveness of the medium for removing iron from a net-alkaline, circum-neutral mine water in Leicestershire. Three different configurations were investigated, which achieved mean iron area-adjusted removal rates up to 139 g/m~2/d; higher than the 10 g/m~2/d quoted in the literature for conventional schemes. Although the media successfully removed some iron, the ochre quickly clogged the system and the unstable nature of the precipitate resulted in problems when maintaining the scheme.