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Author Benner, S.G.; Blowes, D.W.; Ptacek, C.J.
Title A full-scale porous reactive wall for prevention of acid mine drainage Type Journal Article
Year 1997 Publication Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation Abbreviated Journal
Volume 17 Issue 4 Pages 99-107
Keywords acid mine drainage alkalinity bacteria Canada case studies concentration dissolved materials drainage Eastern Canada ground water mines observation wells Ontario permeability pH pollution porous materials recharge reduction remediation site exploration Sudbury District Ontario sulfate ion surface water waste disposal water pollution Groundwater quality Groundwater problems and environmental effects Pollution and waste management non radioactive geographical abstracts: physical geography hydrology (71 6 11) geomechanics abstracts: excavations (77 10 10) geological abstracts: environmental geology (72 14 2) groundwater protection permeable barrier acid mine drainage aquifer groundwater acid min drainage contamination permeable barrier groundwater protection permeable barrier acid mine drainage aquifer Canada, Ontario, Sudbury, Nickel Rim
Abstract The generation and release of acidic drainage containing high concentrations of dissolved metals from decommissioned mine wastes is an environmental problem of international scale. A potential solution to many acid drainage problem is the installation of permeable reactive walls into aquifers affected by drainage water derived from mine waste materials. A permeable reactive wall installed into an aquifer impacted by low-quality mine drainage waters was installed in August 1995 at the Nickel Rim mine site near Sudbury, Ontario. The reactive mixture, containing organic matter, was designed to promote bacterially mediated sulfate reduction and subsequent metal sulfide precipitation. The reactive wall is installed to an average depth of 12 feet (3.6 m) and is 49 feet (15 m) long perpendicular to ground water flow. The wall thickness (flow path length) is 13 feet (4 m). Initial results, collected nine months after installation, indicate that sulfate reduction and metal sulfide precipitation is occurring. Comparing water entering the wall to treated water existing the wall, sulfate concentrations decrease from 2400 to 4600 mg/L to 200 to 3600 mg/L; Fe concentration decrease from 250 to 1300 mg/L to 1.0 to 40 mg/L, pH increases from 5.8 to 7.0; and alkalinity (as CaCO<inf>3</inf>) increases from 0 to 50 mg/L to 600 to 2000 mg/L. The reactive wall has effectively removed the capacity of the ground water to generate acidity on discharge to the surface. Calculations based on comparison to previously run laboratory column experiments indicate that the reactive wall has potential to remain effective for at least 15 years.
Address Dr. S.G. Benner, Earth Sciences Department, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ont. N2L 3G1, Canada
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Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1069-3629 ISBN Medium
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Notes Review; A full-scale porous reactive wall for prevention of acid mine drainage; 0337197; United-States 46; file:///C:/Dokumente%20und%20Einstellungen/Stefan/Eigene%20Dateien/Artikel/10621.pdf; Geobase Approved no
Call Number CBU @ c.wolke @ 17555 Serial 67
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