Abstract
Passive treatment systems (PTSs) are frequently used to treat mine drainage that contains elevated concentrations of Fe, sulfate, and trace metals. Vertical flow bioreactors (VFBRs), often designed specifically to remove trace metals from mine drainage and retain them in an organic substrate, are a common PTS component. Many factors, including ionic strength, affect the performance of VFBR and their ability to remove trace metals. A paired-comparison study was performed in which two sets of columns were constructed, filled with an organic substrate, and fed synthetic mine water of differing ionic strengths, dominated by Na and sulfate, for 1 year. Elevated ionic strength significantly increased the rate of removal of Cd and Zn, and possibly Pb. Conversely, elevated ionic strength significantly decreased the rate of removal of Ni and Mn and even caused the eventual release of Mn from the substrate.
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