Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Co-treatment of acid mine drainage with municipal wastewater: performance evaluation

  • Mining and the Environment - Understanding Processes, Assessing Impacts and Developing Remediation
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Co-treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) with municipal wastewater (MWW) using the activated sludge process is a novel treatment technology offering potential savings over alternative systems in materials, proprietary chemicals and energy inputs. The impacts of AMD on laboratory-scale activated sludge units (plug-flow and sequencing batch reactors) treating synthetic MWW were investigated. Synthetic AMD containing Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn and SO4 at a range of concentrations and pH values was formulated to simulate three possible co-treatment processes, i.e., (1) adding raw AMD to the activated sludge aeration tank, (2) pre-treating AMD prior to adding to the aeration tank by mixing with digested sludge and (3) pre-treating AMD by mixing with screened MWW. Continuous AMD loading to the activated sludge reactors during co-treatment did not cause a significant decrease in chemical oxygen demand (COD), 5-day biochemical oxygen demand, or total organic carbon removal; average COD removal rates ranged from 87–93 %. Enhanced phosphate removal was observed in reactors loaded with Fe- and Al-rich AMD, with final effluent TP concentrations <2 mg/L. Removal rates for dissolved Al, Cu, Fe and Pb were 52–84 %, 47–61 %, 74–86 % and 100 %, respectively, in both systems. Manganese and Zn removal were strongly linked to acidity; removal from net-acidic AMD was <10 % for both metals, whereas removal from circum-neutral AMD averaged 93–95 % for Mn and 58–90 % for Zn. Pre-mixing with screened MWW was the best process option in terms of AMD neutralization and metal removal. However, significant MWW alkalinity was consumed, suggesting an alkali supplement may be necessary.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AMD:

Acid mine drainage

BOD5 :

Five-day biochemical oxygen demand

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand

DO:

Dissolved oxygen

f/m:

Food-to-microorganism

HRT:

Hydraulic retention time

MLSS:

Mixed liquor suspended solids

MWW:

Municipal wastewater

SBR:

Sequencing batch reactor

SRT:

Solids retention time

SS:

Suspended solids

SVI:

Sludge volume index

TN:

Total nitrogen

TOC:

Total organic carbon

TP:

Total phosphorus

WWTP:

Wastewater treatment plant

References

  • Acheampong MA, Meulepas RJW, Lens PNL (2010) Removal of heavy metals and cyanide from gold mine wastewater. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 85:590–613

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andreadakis A (1993) Physical and chemical properties of activated sludge floc. Water Sci Technol 27(12):1707–1714

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • APHA, AWWA, WEF (2005) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 21st edn. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Azzam AM, Elatrash AM, Ghattas NK (1969) The co-precipitation of manganese by iron(III) hydroxide. J Radioanal Chem 2:255–262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berg UT, Nyholm N (1996) Biodegradability simulation studies in semicontinuous activated sludge reactors with low (μg/L range) and standard (ppm range) chemical concentrations. Chemosphere 33(4):711–735

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boon AG (1995) Septicity in sewers: causes, consequences, and containment. Water Sci Technol 31(7):237–253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brezonik PL (1994) Chemical kinetics and process dynamics in aquatic systems. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown MJ, Lester JN (1979) Metal removal in activated sludge: the role of bacterial extracellular polymers. Water Res 13:817–837

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown MJ, Lester JN (1982) Role of bacterial extracellular polymers in metal uptake in pure bacterial culture and activated sludge—I: effects of metal concentration. Water Res 16:1539–1548

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burgess JE, Stuetz RM (2002) Activated sludge for the treatment of sulphur-rich wastewaters. Miner Eng 15:839–846

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burgos WD, Borch T, Troyer LD, Luan F, Larson LN, Brown JF, Lambson J, Shimizu M (2012) Schwertmannite and Fe oxides formed by biological low-pH Fe(II) oxidation versus abiotic neutralization: Impact on trace metal sequesterization. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 76:29–44

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buzier R, Tusseau-Vuillemin M-H, dit Meriadec CM, Rousselot O, Mouchel JM (2006) Trace metal speciation and fluxes within a major French wastewater treatment plant: impact of the successive treatments stages. Chemosphere 65:2419–2426

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caravelli AH, Contreras EM, Zaritzky NE (2010) Phosphorous removal in batch systems using ferric chloride in the presence of activated sludges. J Hazard Mater 177:199–208

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cecen F, Gursoy G (2001) Biosorption of heavy metals from landfill leachate onto activated sludge. J Environ Sci Health A 36(6):987–998

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang W-C, Hsu C-H, Chiang S-M, Su M-C (2007) Equilibrium and kinetics of metal biosorption by sludge from a biological nutrient removal system. Environ Technol 28(4):453–462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng MH, Patterson JW, Minear RA (1975) Heavy metals uptake by activated sludge. J Water Pollut Control Fed 47(2):362–376

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chipasa KB (2003) Accumulation and fate of selected heavy metals in a biological wastewater treatment system. Waste Manage 23:135–143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christofi N, Aspichueta E, Dalzell DJB, De la Sota A, Etxebarria J, Fernandes T, Gutiérrez M, Morton J, Obst U, Schmellenkamp P (2003) Congruence in the performance of model nitrifying activated sludge plants located in Germany, Scotland and Spain. Water Res 37:177–187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chua H, Yu PHF, Sin SN, Cheung MWL (1999) Sub-lethal effects of heavy metals on activated sludge microorganisms. Chemosphere 39(15):2681–2692

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clark T, Stephenson T, Arnold-Smith AK (1999) The impact of aluminium-based co-precipitants on the activated sludge process. Trans Inst Chem Eng 77:31–36

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (2006) Secondary treatment regulation, 40 CFR §133.102(c). U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Comeau Y (2008) Microbial metabolism. In: Henze M, van Loosdrecht MCM, Ekama GA, Brdjanovic D (eds) Biological wastewater treatment: principles, modelling, and design. IWA Publishing, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Cravotta III CA, Brightbill RA, Langland MJ (2010) Abandoned mine drainage in the Swatara Creek Basin, Southern Anthracite Coalfield, Pennsylvania, USA: 1. Stream water quality trends coinciding with the return of fish. Mine Water Environ 29:200-216

    Google Scholar 

  • Demin OA, Dudeney AWL (2003) Nitrification in constructed wetlands treating ochreous mine water. Mine Water Environ 22(1):15–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dobbie KE, Heal KV, Aumônier J, Smith KA, Johnston A, Younger PL (2009) Evaluation of iron ochre from mine drainage treatment for removal of phosphorus from wastewater. Chemosphere 75:795–800

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dubber D, Gray NF (2009) Enumeration of protozoan ciliates in activated sludge: determination of replicate number using probability. Water Res 43(14):3443–3452

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dubber D, Gray NF (2010) Replacement of chemical oxygen demand (COD) with total organic carbon (TOC) for monitoring wastewater treatment performance to minimize disposal of toxic analytical waste. J Environ Sci Health A 45(12):1595–1600

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dubber D, Gray NF (2011) The effect of anoxia and anaerobia on ciliate community in biological nutrient removal systems using laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). Water Res 45(6):2213–2226

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Edenborn HM, Brickett LA (2002) Determination of manganese stability in a constructed wetland sediment using redox gel probes. Geomicrobiol J 19:485–504

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ekama GA, Wentzel MC (2008) Nitrogen removal. In: Henze M, Van Loosdrecht MCM, Ekama GA, Brdjanovic D (eds) Biological wastewater treatment: principles, modelling, and design. IWA Publishing, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2009) Urban waste water discharges in Ireland for population equivalents greater than 500 persons: a report for the years 2006 and 2007. EPA, Wexford

    Google Scholar 

  • Evangelou VP (1998) Environmental soil and water chemistry: principles and applications. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia Orozco JH (2008) Toxicity. In: Henze M, Van Loosdrecht MCM, Ekama GA, Brdjanovic D (eds) Biological wastewater treatment: principles, modelling, and design. IWA Publishing, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerardi MH (2002) Nitrification and denitrification in the activated sludge process. Wiley Interscience, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gibert O, de Pablo J, Cortina JL, Ayora C (2005) Municipal compost-based mixture for acid mine drainage bioremediation: metal retention mechanisms. Appl Geochem 20:1648–1657

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstone ME, Kirk PWW, Lester JN (1990) The behaviour of heavy metals during wastewater treatment II. Lead, nickel and zinc. Sci Total Environ 95:253–270

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gray NF (1990) Activated sludge: theory and practice. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray NF (1998) Acid mine drainage composition and the implications for its impact on lotic systems. Water Res 32(7):2122–2134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gray NF (2004) Biology of wastewater treatment. Series on environmental science and management, vol 4, 2nd edn. Imperial College Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray NF, O'Neill C (1995) Artificial acid mine drainage for use in laboratory simulation studies. Fresenius Environ Bull 4:481–484

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • HACH Company (2007) Oxygen demand, chemical. USEPA reactor digestion method: method 8000. DOC 316.53.01099

  • Hammaini A, Ballester A, Blázquez ML, González F, Muñoz JA (2002) Effect of the presence of lead on the biosorption of copper, cadmium and zinc by activated sludge. Hydrometallurgy 67:109–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hammaini A, González F, Ballester A, Blásquez ML, Muñoz JA (2007) Biosorption of heavy metals by activated sludge and their desorption characteristics. J Environ Manage 84:419–426

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hammaini A, González F, Ballester A, Blázquez ML, Muñoz JA (2003) Simultaneous uptake of metals by activated sludge. Miner Eng 16:723–729

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hedin RS (2004) The use of measured and calculated acidity values to improve the quality of AMD data sets. In: Barnhisel RI (ed) Proceedings of the American Society for Mining and Reclamation, Morgantown, WV

  • Hedin RS, Nairn RW (1992) Designing and sizing passive mine drainage treatment systems. In: Thirteenth West Virginia Surface Mine Drainage Task Force Symposium, Morgantown, WV

  • Hedin RS, Nairn RW, Kleinmann RLP (1994) Information circular IC 9389: passive treatment of coal mine drainage. Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior

  • Henze M, Comeau Y (2008) Wastewater characterization. In: Henze M, van Loosdrecht MCM, Ekama GA, Brdjanovic D (eds) Biological wastewater treatment: principles, modelling, and design. IWA Publishing, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes TA, Gray NF (2012) Acute and chronic toxicity of acid mine drainage to the activated sludge process. Mine Water Environ 31(1):40–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes TA, Gray NF (2013) Removal of metals and acidity from acid mine drainage using municipal wastewater and activated sludge. Mine Water Environ

  • Hughes TA, Gray NF, Sánchez Guillamón O (2013) Removal of metals and acidity from acid mine drainage using liquid and dried digested sewage sludge and cattle slurry. Mine Water Environ

  • ISO (1989) ISO 6060: 1989. Water quality: determination of the chemical oxygen demand. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • ISO (2003) Water quality: determination of biochemical oxygen demand after n days (BODn), part 1: dilution and seeding method with allylthiourea addition. ISO 5815–1:2003. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins D, Richard MG, Daigger GT (2004) Manual on the causes and control of activated sludge bulking, foaming, and other solids separation problems, 3rd edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez-Rodríguez AM, Durán-Barrantes MM, Borja R, Sánchez E, Colmenarejo MF, Raposo F (2009) Heavy metals removal from acid mine drainage water using biogenic hydrogen sulphide and effluent from anaerobic treatment: effect of pH. J Hazard Mater 165:759–765

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin B, Wilén B-M, Lant P (2003) A comprehensive insight into floc characteristics and their impact on compressibility and settleability of activated sludge. Chem Eng J (Amsterdam, Neth) 95:221–234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson KL, Younger PL (2006) The co-treatment of sewage and mine waters in aerobic wetlands. Eng Geol (Amsterdam, Neth) 85:53–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jönsson K, Grunditz C, Dalhammar G, Jansen JL (2000) Occurrence of nitrification inhibition in Swedish municipal wastewaters. Water Res 34(9):2455–2462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsou E, Malamis S, Haralambous K (2010) Examination of zinc uptake in a combined system using sludge, minerals and ultrafiltration membranes. J Hazard Mater 182:27–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katsou E, Malamis S, Loizidou M (2011) Performance of a membrane bioreactor used for the treatment of wastewater contaminated with heavy metals. Bioresour Technol 102:4325–4332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kempton S, Sterritt RM, Lester JN (1983) Factors affecting the fate and behaviour of toxic elements in the activated sludge process. Environ Pollut, Ser A 32:51–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kirby CS, Cravotta CA III (2005) Net alkalinity and net acidity 1: theoretical considerations. Appl Geochem 20(10):1920–1940

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kjeldsen KU, Joulian C, Ingvorsen K (2004) Oxygen tolerance of sulfate-reducing bacteria in activated sludge. Environ Sci Technol 38(7):2038–2043

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lei Z, Yu T, Ai-zhong D, Jin-sheng W (2008) Adsorption of Cd(II), Zn(II) by extracellular polymeric substances extracted from waste activated sludge. Water Sci Technol 58:195–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lew B, Cochva M, Lahav O (2009) Potential effects of desalinated water quality on the operation stability of wastewater treatment plants. Sci Total Environ 407:2404–2410

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marandi R, Ardejani FD, Marandi A (2007) Biotreatment of acid mine drainage using sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) in the Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper mine. In: Cidu R, Frau F (eds) IMWA Symposium 2007: water in mining environments, Cagliari, Italy

  • McKinney RE (2004) Environmental pollution control microbiology. Marcel Dekker Incorporated, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Meriç S, Eremektar G, Ciner F, Tünay O (2003) An OUR-based approach to determine the toxic effects of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in activated sludge. J Hazard Mater B101:147–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minitab (2007) Minitab 15 statistical software. Minitab, Inc., State College

    Google Scholar 

  • Munk L, Faure G, Pride DE, Bigham JM (2002) Sorption of trace metals to an aluminum precipitate in a stream receiving acid rock-drainage; Snake River, Summit County, Colorado. Appl Geochem 17:421–430

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neto RR, Crocetta MS, Souza MGR, Rocha E, Zanuz M, Gomes CJB (2010) Combined treatment of acid mine drainage and sewage in the State of Santa Catarina-Brazil. In: Wolkersdorfer C, Freund A (eds) Mine water and innovative thinking, Sydney, Nova Scotia

  • Neufeld RD, Hermann ER (1975) Heavy metal removal by acclimated activated sludge. J Water Pollut Control Fed 47(2):310–329

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen AH, Lens P, Vollertsen J, Hvitved-Jacobsen T (2005) Sulfide–iron interactions in domestic wastewater from a gravity sewer. Water Res 39:2747–2755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen JS, Hrudey SE (1983) Metal loadings and removal at a municipal activated sludge plant. Water Res 17(9):1041–1052

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen PH, Keiding K (1998) Disintegration of activated sludge flocs in presence of sulfide. Water Res 32(2):313–320

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nordstrom DK, Alpers CN (1999) Negative pH, efflorescent mineralogy, and consequences for environmental restoration at the Iron Mountain Superfund site, California. Proc Natl Acad Sci 96:3455–3462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • OECD (1984) OECD guidelines for testing of chemicals, method 209: activated sludge, respiration inhibition test. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver BG, Cosgrove EG (1974) The efficiency of heavy metal removal by a conventional activated sludge treatment plant. Water Res 8:869–874

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Omoike AI, Vanloon GW (1999) Removal of phosphorus and organic matter removal by alum during wastewater treatment. Water Res 33(17):3617–3627

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pagnanelli F, Mainelli S, Bornoroni L, Dionisi D, Toro L (2009) Mechanisms of heavy-metal removal by activated sludge. Chemosphere 75:1028–1034

    Google Scholar 

  • Pamukoglu MY, Kargi F (2007) Copper(II) ion toxicity in activated sludge processes as function of operating parameters. Enzyme Microb Technol 40:1228–1233

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Principi P, Villa F, Bernasconi M, Zanardini E (2006) Metal toxicity in municipal wastewater activated sludge investigated by multivariate analysis and in situ hybridization. Water Res 40(1):99–106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rao SR, Gehr R, Riendeau M, Lu D, Finch JA (1992) Acid mine drainage as a coagulant. Miner Eng 5(9):1011–1020

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reisman DJ, Sundaram V, Al-Abed SR, Allen D (2007) Statistical validation of sulfate quantification methods used for analysis of acid mine drainage. Talanta 71:303–311

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reuschenbach P, Pagga U, Strotmann U (2003) A critical comparison of respirometric biodegradation tests based on OECD 301 and related test methods. Water Res 37(7):1571–1582

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rose AW, Cravotta CA III (1998) Geochemistry of coal mine drainage. In: Smith MW, Brady KBC (eds) The prediction and prevention of acid drainage from surface coal mines in Pennsylvania. Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Rötting TS, Thomas RC, Ayora C, Carrera J (2008) Passive treatment of acid mine drainage with high metal concentrations using dispersed alkaline substrate. J Environ Qual 37:1741–1751

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rozada F, Otero M, Morán A, García AI (2008) Adsorption of heavy metals onto sewage sludge-derived materials. Bioresour Technol 99:6332–6338

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez España J, López Pamo E, Santofimia Pastor E, Reyes Andrés J, Martín Rubí JA (2006) The removal of dissolved metals by hydroxysulphate precipitates during oxidation and neutralization of acid mine waters, Iberian Pyrite Belt. Aquat Geochem 12:269–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandström Å, Mattsson E (2001) Bacterial ferrous iron oxidation of acid mine drainage as pre-treatment for subsequent metal recovery. Int J Miner Process 62:309–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santos A, Judd S (2010) The fate of metals in wastewater treated by the activated sludge process and membrane bioreactors: a brief review. J Environ Monit 12:110–118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sibrell PL, Montgomery GA, Ritenour KL, Tucker TW (2009) Removal of phosphorus from agricultural wastewaters using adsorption media prepared from acid mine drainage sludge. Water Res 43:2240–2250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sirianuntapiboon S, Ungkaprasatcha O (2007) Removal of Pb2+ and Ni2+ by bio-sludge in sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and granular activated carbon-SBR (GAC-SBR) systems. Bioresour Technol 98:2749–2757

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Skousen JG, Rose AW, Geidel G, Foreman J, Evans R, Hellier W (1998) Handbook of technologies for avoidance and remediation of acid mine drainage. National Mine Land Reclamation Center, Morgantown

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson T, Lester JN (1987) Heavy metal behaviour during the activated sludge process: I. Extent of soluble and insoluble metal removal. Sci Total Environ 63:199–214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sterritt RM, Brown MJ, Lester JN (1981) Metal removal by adsorption and precipitation in the activated sludge process. Environ Pollut, Ser A 24(4):313–323

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strosnider WH, Nairn RW (2010) Effective passive treatment of high-strength acid mine drainage and raw municipal wastewater in Potosi, Bolivia, using simple mutual incubations and limestone. J Geochem Explor 105:34–42

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strosnider WH, Winfrey BK, Nairn RW (2011a) Alkalinity generation in a novel multi-stage high-strength acid mine drainage and municipal wastewater passive co-treatment system. Mine Water Environ 30(1):47–53

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strosnider WH, Winfrey BK, Nairn RW (2011b) Biochemical oxygen demand and nutrient processing in a novel multi-stage raw municipal wastewater and acid mine drainage passive co-treatment system. Water Res 45(3):1079–1086

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strosnider WH, Winfrey BK, Nairn RW (2011c) Novel passive co-treatment of acid mine drainage and municipal wastewater. J Environ Qual 40:206–213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stumm W, Morgan JJ (1981) Aquatic chemistry: an introduction emphasizing chemical equilibria in natural waters, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (2000) Abandoned mine site characterization and cleanup handbook. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, Seattle

    Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (2004) Reference notebook. Abandoned Mine Lands Team, US EPA, Washington DC

  • Watzlaf GR, Schroeder KT, Kleinmann RL, Kairies CL, Nairn RW (2004) The passive treatment of coal mine drainage, U. S. Department of Energy Report, DOE/NETL–2004/1202. National Technical Information Service, Springfield

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster JG, Swedlund PJ, Webster KS (1998) Trace metal adsorption onto an acid mine drainage iron(III) oxy hydroxy sulfate. Environ Sci Technol 32:1361–1368

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei X, Viadero RC Jr, Bhojappa S (2008) Phosphorus removal by acid mine drainage sludge from secondary effluents of municipal wastewater treatment plants. Water Res 42:3275–3284

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winfrey BK, Strosnider WH, Nairn RW, Strevett KA (2010) Highly effective reduction of fecal indicator bacteria counts in an ecologically engineered municipal wastewater and acid mine drainage passive co-treatment system. Ecol Eng 36(12):1620–1626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolkersdorfer C, Bowell R (2004) Contemporary reviews of mine water studies in Europe, part 1. Mine Water Environ 23:162–182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeoman S, Lester JN, Perry R (1992) Phosphorus removal and its influence on particle size and heavy metal distribution during wastewater treatment. Environ Technol 13(10):901–924

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang M (2011) Adsorption study of Pb(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) from simulated acid mine drainage using dairy manure compost. Chem Eng J (Amsterdam, Neth) 172(1):361–368

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zipper CE, Skousen JG (2010) Influent water quality affects performance of passive treatment systems for acid mine drainage. Mine Water Environ 29:135-143

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

T. Hughes gratefully acknowledges the support provided by the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology (IRCSET) Embark Initiative and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) (Grant Number: 08/RFP/ENM993). In addition, the authors extend sincere appreciation to the personnel at the WWTPs located in Leixlip, Co. Kildare, Swords, Co. Dublin, and Athy, Co. Kildare, for their assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Technology Research Group, Centre for the Environment, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Theresa A. Hughes & Nicholas F. Gray

Authors
  1. Theresa A. Hughes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nicholas F. Gray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Theresa A. Hughes.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Vera Slaveykova

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(PDF 18 kb)

ESM 2

(PDF 25 kb)

ESM 3

(PDF 264 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hughes, T.A., Gray, N.F. Co-treatment of acid mine drainage with municipal wastewater: performance evaluation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 7863–7877 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1303-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1303-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation