Abstract
AMD from the Anna S coal mine in Pennsylvania (USA) has been treated successfully since 2004 in the Anna and Hunters Drift (HD) passive systems. The systems, which consist of vertical flow ponds and constructed wetlands, are the largest and most costly mine water treatment project installed by a non-profit group in the USA to date. 15 years of monitoring data show that the systems effectively treated 1910 L/min of flow with pH 2.8–3.1 containing 121–330 mg/L acidity (as CaCO3), 11–31 mg/L Al, 6–33 mg/L Fe, and 6 mg/L Mn. The systems produced effluents with pH 7.5, 134–140 mg/L alkalinity (as CaCO3), < 1 mg/L Al, 1 mg/L Fe, 2–3 mg/L Mn, and never discharged water with less than 60 mg/L alkalinity (106 samples). In 15 years of operation, the systems generated a combined 5600 tonnes (t) of net alkalinity. Unit treatment costs were converted to 2018 U.S. $ and compared to active treatment systems. Over a 20 year period, passive systems generate alkalinity at a cost of $1168/t of CaCO3, which is 50% less than unit costs for lime treatment plants currently operated in Pennsylvania.
Zusammenfassung
Saures Grubenabwasser (AMD) der Anne S. Kohlegrube in Pennsylvania (USA) wird seit 2004 erfolgreich durch passive Systeme (Anna und Hunters Drift (HD)) aufbereitet. Das passive Grubenwasserreinigungssystem besteht aus vertikal durchströmten Teichen sowie Feuchtgebieten und ist das größte und teuerste Grubenwasseraufbereitungsprojekt, das bisher von einer gemeinnützigen Gruppe in den USA installiert wurde. 15 Jahre Überwachungsdaten zeigen, dass die Systeme effektiv bei Durchflussmengen von 1.910 L/min und arbeiten. Das einströmende Grubenwasser weist pH-Werte von 2,8 bis 3,1 auf und enthält 121–330 mg/L Acidität (als CaCO3), 11–31 mg/L Al, 6–33 mg/L Fe und 6 mg/L Mn. Nach der Passage durch das System werden pH-Werte von 7,5, eine Alkalität von 134–140 mg/L, Al-Werte < 1 mg/L sowie Fe- und Mn-Werte von 1 bzw. 2–3 mg/L gemessen. Über den gesamten Zeitraum strömte niemals Wasser mit Alkalitäten kleiner 60 mg/L aus (106 Proben). In 15 Betriebsjahren wurden durch die passive Reinigung insgesamt 5.600 Tonnen (t) Nettoalkalität erzeugt. Die Behandlungskosten wurden 2018 in US-Dollar (USD) umgerechnet und mit aktiven Wasserbehandlungssystemen verglichen. Über einen Zeitraum von 20 Jahren wurde durch das passive Behandlungssystem Alkalinitäten von 1.168 USD/t CaCO3 erzeugt. Somit fallen durch die passive Grubenwasserreinigung 50% weniger Kosten pro Einheit an als bei derzeit in Pennsylvania in Betrieb befindlichen Kalkbehandlungsanlagen.
Resumen
El AMD de la mina de carbón Anna S en Pensilvania (EEUU) ha sido tratada con éxito desde 2004 en los sistemas pasivos Anna y Hunters Drift (HD). Los sistemas, que consisten en estanques de flujo vertical y humedales construidos, son el proyecto de tratamiento de aguas de mina más grande y costoso instalado por un grupo sin fines de lucro en los Estados Unidos hasta la fecha. 15 años de datos de monitoreo muestran que los sistemas trataron efectivamente 1.910 L/min de flujo con pH 2.8–3.1 que contenía 121-330 mg/L de acidez (como CaCO3), 11–31 mg/L Al, 6–33 mg/L Fe y 6 mg/L Mn. Los sistemas produjeron efluentes con pH 7,5, 134–140 mg/L de alcalinidad, <1 mg/L Al, 1 mg/L Fe y 2–3 mg/L Mn, y nunca se descargaron con menos de 60 mg/L de alcalinidad (106 muestras). En 15 años de operación, los sistemas generaron un total combinado de 5.600 toneladas (t) de alcalinidad neta. Los costos de tratamiento unitario se convirtieron a US $ 2018 y se compararon con los sistemas de tratamiento activos. Durante un período de 20 años, los sistemas pasivos generan alcalinidad a un costo de $ 1.168/t de CaCO3, que es un 50% menos que los costos unitarios de las plantas de tratamiento de cal actualmente operadas en Pennsylvania.
波兰立井开拓水害防治经验
自2004年,Anna and Hunters Drift(HD)被动处理系统成功地处理美国宾夕法尼亚州安娜硫矿的酸性矿井废水(AMD)。系统由垂向流水池和人工湿地组成,至今仍是规模最大、费用最高的矿井废水处理项目,项目由一家美国非盈利组织承担。15年的运行数据表明,该系统能够对pH值2.8–3.1、酸度121–330 mg/L(以CaCO3计)、铝11–31 mg/L、铁6-33 mg/L和锰6 mg/L的矿山污水有效处理,处理能力1910 L/min。处理之后,废水pH值7.5、碱度134–140 mg/L、铝<1 mg/L、铁1 mg/L和锰2–3 mg/L,系统未排放过碱度低于60 mg/L的废水 (106个检测水样)。15年运行净产碱5,600吨。单位处理成本折合2018美元,可与主动处理系统对比。20年之后,被动系统产碱成本为1,168美元/(吨CaCO 3),仍比目前宾夕法尼亚州石灰处理法的单位成本低50%。
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Acknowledgements
The Babb Creek Watershed Association provided water sampling data, system information, and has been a continuous steward of the Anna S passive treatment systems. Michael Smith, Neil Wolfe, Naomi Anderson, and an anonymous reviewer provided valuable feedback about draft versions of this papers.
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This research was supported by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (Grant WR140163).
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Hedin, R.S. Long-term Performance and Costs for the Anna S Mine Passive Treatment Systems. Mine Water Environ 39, 345–355 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-020-00676-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-020-00676-9