Effectivity of constructed wetland using Typha angustifolia in analyzing the decrease of heavy metal (Fe) in acid mine drainage

Abstract

Coal mining in Indonesia mostly done by open mining. The most severe problem in open mining activities is Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) production. Acid mine drainage contains heavy metal (Fe) that will impact now and future living creatures. One of the increasing of acid mine water treatment after the mining process is by using a constructed wetland method. This research aims to analyze constructed wetland effectiveness with rate variation, the number of plants, and material composition (compost, gravel, and limestone). The aims are also to examine local plant of Tifa (Typha angustifolia) ability on decreasing heavy metal (Fe) of acid mine drainage according to Kaltim Regulation Number 02 the year 2011 on water quality standard of coal industries. The study used the method of constructed wetland using a surface flow system, and a vertical ascending flow operated continuously using the elevation. The built wetlands design uses an intermediate bulk container tank with 100 cm x 100 cm x 100 x cm reactor dimension. The result shows that the decrease of the efficiency acid mine water on surface flow constructed wetland for Fe as follows in a row 70.88% (reactor 4), 57.88% (reactor 2). The best Fe metal content absorption is obtained on plant amount 15 treatment with 0.001 L/s rate, with iron content absorption 3294 ppm (40.11%). Fe metal content decrease on compost is obtained to 20% compost treatment with 0.001 L/s rate, with iron content decrease 8728 ppm (89.23%).