An Environmental Forensic Chemistry Experiment Involving Abandoned Mine Drainage Remediation

Abstract

Most forensic chemistry experiments focus on the usual suspects involving criminal scenarios: illicit drug identification, gunshot residue detection, blood and fingerprint analysis, and arson investigations. However, environmental forensics involves chemical techniques that can expand the breadth of experience for forensic chemistry students. An experimental case study was designed to determine the potential source of groundwater contamination along a series of treatment steps designed to mitigate the environmental effects of an abandoned mine drainage site. Simulated drainage samples representing each treatment step are analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy to quantify the metals present, a gravimetric method to determine the concentration of sulfate, and a pH meter to measure relative acidity of the drainage water. Using the data obtained from the simulated samples, students can determine the effectiveness of each treatment step as well as identify the location along the drainage treatment series that is the most likely source of the groundwater contamination.