AMD Remediation at Shoup’s Run Watershed
Alanna O’Neil
Introduction:
The main pollutant of surface water in the mid-Atlantic region is Acid Mine Drainage, AMD, also called Abandoned Mine Drainage. AMD is a nonpoint source pollution that has degraded more than 4,500 stream miles, in just the mid-Atlantic region, due to the drainage of metal-rich water from mining activities (Jacobs). The runoff is extremely acidic due to the exposure of pyrite containing rocks, a sulfur bearing mineral (FeS2), during mining activities, and the chemical reactions associated with the contact of air and water with such rocks. As a result of such chemical reactions, sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is produced. Several chemical reactions take place and are as follows: 1. 2FeS2(s) + 7O2 (g) +2H2O(l) → 2Fe2+(aq) + 4SO4-2(aq) + 4H+(aq) 2. 4Fe2+(aq) + O2 (g) + 4H+(aq) → 4Fe3+(aq) + 2H2O(l) 3. 4Fe3+(aq) + 12H2O(l) → 4Fe(OH)3 (s) + 12H+(aq) The 3 reactions combine to be: 4FeS2(s) + 15O2 (g) +14H2O(l) → 4Fe(OH)3 (s) + 8SO4-2(aq) + 16H+(aq) The first reaction involves pyrite rock reacting with oxygen (air) and water to produce dissolved ferrous iron, sulfate, and acidity. The second reaction oxidizes the dissolved ferrous iron in acidic conditions and produces ferric iron and water. The third reaction involves the hydrolysis of the ferric iron to form ferric hydroxide and more acid. The ferric hydroxide is the orangey-red colored solid you see in the water (Juniata College). Due to mines from the 1800s
The solution of the formed ash and the water is basic, which was shown using the pH paper where its color became blue. A chemical change occurred. It is described using the following chemical reaction:
There are many factors that contribute to Idaho’s pollution problem, but mining may be the biggest. Mining is a huge industry in Idaho, hence the nickname “The Gem State”. The biggest product from Idaho’s mines is silver. Silver mines are some of the largest polluters in the state. Bunker Hill, or Silver Valley, as the Coeur d’Alene region is known for its numerous mines, was recently named a Superfund site. A Superfund site is a site under protection for removal of toxic wastes by the EPA. Although that beautiful valley was also once known for its abundant wildlife, now the rivers are flooded with phosphorous, selenium, zinc, lead, silver, cadmium, and arsenic, all from tailings of several mines in the region. Lake Coeur d’Alene now contains over 70 million tons of toxic waste sediments in its bottom. This pollution has endangered people in the area for years. In Smelterville, where a smelter ran for nearly 100 years, a large number of people have been diagnosed with health complications caused by extremely high levels of lead and other toxins in their blood. These conditions, for most, have existed nearly all their lives. Many remember being ill for most of their childhood and on. In 1973, before the smelter was closed, the average lead toxin level per deciliter of blood in children tested was 70. A reading of 10 is considered high alert. Rocky Hill, who grew up in Smelterville and
Once these mines were abandoned water slowly began to fill these mines. The water came in contact with all of the leftover minerals, including sulfide, and chemicals began to dissolve into the water. This process of dissolving chemicals into the water essentially turned the water into acid (1). Once the mines finally filled, water began to pour out of the mines into the surrounding area, mostly into a body of water now known as “Tar Creek” (1). This creek then spread the contaminated water throughout the community and into numerous water sources.
People hear about issues and events that happen in America every day. Unfortunately every issue or problem does not receive the necessary media attention. One of the roughest cities in the United States, Detroit, Michigan is being affected by pollution. Detroit Wastewater Treatment Facility is the largest source of discharge into the river with 47 billion gallons of diluted sewage water dump into the Detroit River. 10.1 millions of toxic substance was dumped in the great lakes (Matthews, 2013.para.7). Due to the unstable environment Asthma, Cancer, and birth defects are at its peak. This is because of the factories built in the city next to the lower class neighborhoods. There has been cases where a local neighborhoods has been affected by
There are three main mechanisms by which the chemical composition of groundwater, which is our natural source of drinking water, may be changed: by natural processes, by man's waste-disposal practices such as those for sanitary wastes, liquid industrial wastes, solid wastes, and radioactive wastes, and by spills, leaks, and agricultural activities and other sources unrelated to disposal. The degree of risk posed by contaminants varies according to many factors. These include the volume and toxicity of the contaminant, its concentration in the aquifer, its persistence in the environment, and the degree of human and environmental exposure to the contaminant. In addition, the number of persons affected, or likely to be affected, over time and the percentage of available groundwater both locally and regionally should be taken into consideration. If the contaminants in the groundwater exceed the standards set for drinking water by the federal government, for example, then the water is hazardous for the use for which it was designated under the standards. These standards include, however, only a limited number of chemicals, and thus they do not necessarily protect humans or the environment against either the short-term or the long-term effects of every contaminant that might be found in
Clean coal technology usually addresses atmospheric problems resulting from burning coal. Historically, the primary focus was on sulfur dioxide and particulates, since it is the most important gas in the causation of acid rain. More recent focus has been on carbon dioxide (due to its impact on global warming) as well as other pollutants. Concerns exist regarding the economic viability of these technologies and the timeframe of delivery, potentially high hidden economic costs in terms of social and environmental damage, and the costs and viability of disposing of removed carbon and other toxic matter. More, the byproducts of coal power production range from fly ash sludge ponds full of mercury, arsenic, and sulfur in unlined ponds that can leak into the water supply.
Imagine drifting slowly on a canoe while fishing one of Minnesota's crystal clear waters on a beautiful, sunny day. Now imagine being interrupted by the loud, ongoing sounds of drilling and being told the fish were too dangerous to eat. This is only one of many potential harms of sulfide mining. PolyMet, a new mining company would like to bring sulfide mining, also known as copper-nickel mining to Minnesota. This would involve the extraction of copper and various other metals from sulfide, hence the name. The sulfide that comes out of this type of mining can have serious consequences on the environment. Events that occurred in the past and facts mentioned in the books titled Taconite Dreams by Jeffrey Manuel and Fractured Land by Lisa
Coal ash is a byproduct of burning coal in power plants and is composed mainly of aluminum and silicon oxides. This ash is commonly stored away in dump sites, only to leach out solutions of concentrated toxic heavy metals. Such issues are detrimental to the health of water systems, posing both a human and environmental health risk. However, there are solutions to this problem. Coal ash possesses unique chemical properties that allow for the remediation of other environmental concerns, such as the treatment of soil polluted with heavy metals, the removal of nutrients from wastewater, and the remediation of acid mine drainage in streams.
The top diagram is showing how contaminated Irwindale’s groundwater currently is, they also show the locations of the quarries and major functioning factories.The top diagram contaminations seeps into the ground, which translates into the bottom diagram. This shows how deep the contamination goes, reference to the elevaation and the underground piping system and water basin.
The Polymet mine is going to be constructed close to the Boundary Waters. No sulfide mine has operated without polluting nearby water. Leading into the next topic, pollution is not always predicted.
To ensure that the Animas River returns to its original state and the drainage from the Gold King Mine is cleaned up, we believe that a high density sludge process should be used. We believe the most effective high density sludge process is the health steele process. This process works by first mixing the sludge with lime in a tank so that the water can return to it’s original ph. Once the water reaches a safe ph for drinking, it reaches the lime reactor where air is added to ensure the water doesn’t change when exposed to air. Once the water leaves the lime reactor it is transported to the floc tank, where the remaining contaminated particles are removed from the drinking water. The final step is when the water reaches the clarifier and is sent back out to the river, as a healthy drinking water.
The Deep Creek Water Quality Initiative Project offers funds for you to protect water quality and prevent soil erosion! This project is to demonstrate Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS) practices which will address water quality priorities identified in the watershed.
This experiment initially involved the synthesis of an iron (III) oxalate complex with the general
The added acid’s had many similar reactions to the original sample. After raising the pH of the iron solution from 2 to 8, a reaction began to occur. The color changed from a yellow to a dark red-orange color after the pH rose to 3. After the pH had reached 8 the color had turned to a green-blue. Color changes also happened after adding acid to the iron solution and then again adding sodium hydroxide.
through the duration of the entire experiment. Part 1 involves the synthesis of an iron (III) oxalate complex. The iron is first presented in its Fe2+ form, so it must first be oxidized to