Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2002
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
Department
Horticulture
Committee Chair
Louis M. McDonald Jr.
Abstract
Acid mine drainage is a serious environmental concern in many regions worldwide, but especially in coal and metal mining regions. These acid drainages are often treated with chemicals to raise the pH of the water and to cause neutralization and precipitation of metals. As neutralization occurs, a looser gelatinous material called "floc" is produced. The effects of neutralizing chemical, pH, sulfate to iron molar ratio, and solids concentration on floc settling properties were determined in synthetic acid mine drainage. Sulfate was the important factor affecting floc physicochemical properties, increasing settling times from 25-125% and decreasing settling rates from 24-63%. Neutralization pH, treatment chemical cation and initial solids concentration were less important. Ability of treatment to meet discharge standards also decreased with increasing sulfate concentration. An understanding of sulfate and other solution property effects on floc properties may lead to increased treatment efficiency and improved stream water quality.
Recommended Citation
Bohan, Catherine M., "Chemical and physical properties of acid mine drainage floc" (2002). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 1568.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/1568