The use of biosolids in acid mine drainage attenuation

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2008

Authors

Maria Cristina Vila (Author) FEUP; António Fiúza (Author) FEUP; Aurora Futuro Silva (Author) FEUP; José Soeiro Carvalho (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: Bioremediation conference

Pages: ID161-1-ID161-4

4th European Bioremediation Conference

Chania - Crete, Greece, 3 a 6 de Setembro de 2008

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Engineering

Other information

Abstract (EN): Portugal is an important tungsten producer since the last quarter of the XIX century. Metallic ores, such as copper, tin, tungsten, lead and zinc, have its main occurrence in sulphide environments. The exhaustive exploitation during long periods of time generated huge quantities of mineral wastes containing high grades in sulphur and iron. The wastes react with air and rain water producing, with kinetics varying from short to long term, the well known acid mine drainage. Biosolids from sewage sludge were tested as an oxygen consumer cover of the sulphide tailings, through two different experimental scales: laboratory and pilot scale tests. Laboratory scale tests allowed to predict the acid production potential as well as its kinetics. Pilot tests are more difficult to implement than those at laboratory, but they permit a better and more accurate forecast of potential releases as well as a more accurate simulation of the temporal evolution. Aerobic microorganisms living on biosolids consume the oxygen before it reaches the mine wastes. It has two significant advantages. First, the acid potential decreases significantly; secondly, it represents an innocuous destination for the biosolids originated in the treatment of residual municipal waters and, at the same time, it allows a rapid growing of a plant green layer over the desert-like landscapes originated by the mine waste deposits.

Language: Portuguese

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific