Pollution Research Paper

ACID MINE DRAINAGE: AN INTRODUCTION AND TREATMENT STRATEGIES

HARPREET KAUR, MADHURI GIRDHAR AND ANAND MOHAN

Abstract

Pollution is nothing but the resources we are not harvesting, we allow them to disperse because we have been ignorant of their values. Nowadays, waste water is the most important resource which requires accurate management. Acid mine drainage(AMD) is the most common cause of mining activities taking place in different countries across the world, which results in the production of wastes in large quantities that can have adverse effects for decades. Due to the greater surface of mine tailings and waste rocks, they are more susceptible to generation of AMD. Waste-waters which consist of acidic sulfur are considered as the by-products of large diversity of industrial operations. AMD affects over thousands of miles of streams in affected areas of the world. Moreover, the metal mining industries situated closer to these types of complexes also add up their input containing large amount of the toxic substances, like cyanide and other heavy metals, which have important effect on the quality of the water. Industrial toxic chemicals and hazardous waste treatment and disposal have become major water quality concerns, with high potential costs and uncertain future treatment requirements and alternatives. The acid mine drainage has an enormous toxicological impact over surrounding flora and fauna. Treatment of acid mine water has been carried out with different active and passive treatments such as aerobic wetlands, anaerobic wetlands, open limestone channels, reverse osmosis, ion exchange process etc. Some of these waste waters treatment also comprises of biological treatment protocols resulting in breakdown of organic material by micro-organisms. The overall procedure of treatment of acid mine drainage is a complex problem and has been continuously in the evolving stages. Large amounts of public and private funds have been allocated for the same for reduction of these large environmental disasters.