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ACID ROCK DRAINAGE PASSIVE REMEDIATION USING ALKALINE CLAY: HYDRO-GEOCHEMICAL STUDY AND IMPACTS OF VEGETATION AND SAND ON REMEDIATION
Plaza, F., Y. Wen, and X. Liang.
The Science of the Total Environment 1637-1638:1262-1278(2018)
Filed Under: Research
Filed Under: Research
A passive remediation method using alkaline clay (AC) was tested through a series of static and long-term kinetic laboratory experiments (over three years) complemented with field measurements and geochemical modeling to determine its effectiveness as a passive remediation method for acid rock drainage (ARD). Both the field measurements and the samples used for the experiments came from a local coal waste site. Through the analysis of the field measurements and the outcome of the laboratory experiments and the geochemical modeling, AC proved to be an effective remediation material for ARD, in terms of achieving a neutral pH in the leachate and immobilization of sulfate and metals. Vegetation acted as a phytoaccumulation/phytoextraction agent, causing an additional immobilization of metals. The saturated sand barrier blocked downward the oxygen and water diffusion, reducing pyrite oxidation rates.



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