US EPA

7665628 

Journal Article 

Concomitant removal of iron and NAPLs within a mine water treatment system 

Geroni, JN; Sapsford, DJ; , 

2012 

INT MINE WATER ASSOC 

WENDELSTEIN 

601-606 

WOS:000398883700071 

Water entering the mine water treatment scheme (MWTS) at the Blaenavon site in South Wales is co-contaminated with non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPL) arising from historic pitch and coal tar wastes. This paper presents the results of investigations into the transport of the NAPLs through the treatment scheme and the extent to which they are co-removed with ochre formed within the MWTS. The scheme comprises one settling lagoon in series with two reed beds. Water and solid samples were collected along the length of treatment scheme and were prepared by solvent extraction for quantitative and qualitative analyses by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Significant quantities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) were found in Lagoon 1 with concentrations of the most prevalent PAH being phenanthrene (1460 mg/kg dry solid) and the most prevalent petroleum hydrocarbon being octadecane (1486 mg/kg dry solid). Qualitative analyses using the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Mass Spectra database identified 92 additional compounds within the MTWS. The general trend was for concentrations of detected compounds and the number of detected compounds to decrease across the MWTS with total PAH concentration decreasing from 5534 to 72 mg/kg dry (ochre) solid by the end of Lagoon 1. There were no detectable levels of PAH or TPH in water downstream of the treatment scheme. Several possible mechanisms are discussed for the removal of the PAH and TPH from the mine water along with the potential for this type of scheme to treat other sources of organic contaminants. 

McCullough, CD; Lund, MA; Wyse, L; 

978-0-7298-0707-4 

International-Mine-Water-Association Symposium (IMWA 2012) 

Bunbury, AUSTRALIA