The Impact of Acid Mine Drainage on Hengshi River

Project Outline
Team 2: Eunseo Lee, Hui Zhong, Charles, Wilson
Introduction
1. Introduction: Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) causes, treatment and case studies
1. Overview of acid mine drainage
A. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a highly acidic solution rich in heavy metals and produced by mining
activities. It can severely inhibit the growth of plants, and microbial communities and disturb the surrounding
ecosystem.
B. Its environmental impact, however, can be minimized at three basic levels: through primary prevention
of the acid-generating process; secondary control, which involves deployment of acid drainage migration prevention
measures; and tertiary control, or the collection and treatment of effluent.
C. Heavy metals, including Fe, Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb , Cu and Zn, have the potential to become major
contamination sources that causes severe environmental pollution to human, aquatic life, food crops and soil
environments.
2. The process of AMD generation
A.Oxidation of pyrrhotite (Fe(1x)S)
B. Oxidation of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2)
C. Oxidation of arsenopyrite (FeAsS)
D. Oxidation of sphalerite (ZnS) and galena (PbS)
E. The primary factors that determine the rate of acid generation are: Effect of low pH; Temperature;
Oxygen content of the gas phase, if saturation is less than 100%; Oxygen concentration in the water phase; Degree
of saturation with water; Chemical activity of Fe3C; Surface area of exposed metal sulfide; Chemical activation
energy required to initiate acid generation; and Bacterial activity.
3. Removal of Heavy Metals from Acid Mine Drainage
A. Mine water have low pH (<5) seeps through waste rock piles, tailing dumps, and country rocks,
dissolving metals along its typical major rock constituents (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn & Al) as well as trace elements
such as Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni, As & Zn.
B. Active treatments: following chemicals are successfully used in active treatment, CaCO3 (Calcium
Carbonate), CaO (Calcium Oxide), Ca (OH)2 (Calcium Hydroxide), NH3 (Ammonia), NaOH (Sodium Hydroxide)
and Na2CO3 (Sodium Carbonate) etc.
C. Passive treatment: primary passive technologies include aerobic and anaerobic wetlands; limestone
ponds, open limestone channels (OLC), vertical flow reactors, settling ponds, limestone diversion wells, anoxic
drain of calcareous and sandstone, anoxic limestone drains (ALD).

Case-study
A. Hengshi River in Guangdong Province, China, was chosen as the main focus for this study, as
Dabaoshan Mine Site (DMS), the largest polymetallic mine in South China, is located close by Hengshi river, which
exposes the river to acid mine wastes.(pubmed) Mining activities that started from the 1970s have accumulated
mine wastes that were left untreated. Sulfide-containing minerals in the soil and wastes, after going through
weathering, created acid mine drainage with high acidity, salinity, anions (sulfates and carbonates) and heavy metal
content. (science direct)

B. This project is novel, as it aims to predict the levels of pH, alkalinity and metal levels (Fe2+/Fe3+, Ca,
Zn, Cu, Al, As, Cd, Pb species)in Hengshi river a) with phytoremediation water treatment b) without any water
treatment at a specific time.

C. Quantified information on the levels of alkalinity, pH and heavy metal ion concentration will be graphed
to visualize the change of these components in the Hengshi river water and will be used to make the component
level change predictions with and without the water treatment using phytoremediation.

D. These predictions are expected to shed light on the rate of detrimental pollution by a major mining site
and the practicality of phytoremediation, a newly emerging environmental-friendly water treatment technique.
Materials and methods
I. Site description
 A. For our project, mine leakage of heavy metal species(Ca, Zn, Cu, Al, As, Cd, Pb, Fe) and its
impact on the pH and alkalinity in Hengshi river will be studied.
B. Hengshi river was chosen because it is located close to the biggest mine in South China
(Dabaoshan mine) that has been active since 1970s, without significant efforts in treatment of the wastes
for water quality improvement. This project aims to study such a location with untreated water pollution
and propose a potential change in the degree of the pollution with the implementation of water treatment.
II. Data analysis
A.( https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-021-00923-0)

B. We will use past research data of Hengshi river (and river downstream such as Wenjian river)
to generate a pH, alkalinity and metal ion level trend graph to extrapolate the level changes in the future.
C. Phytoremediation done on river water quality in other parts of the world with similar terrain and
climate will be studied and will be implemented on the water composition change trend of Hengshi river to
predict the water quality improvement, or pollution deceleration.
III. Potential impact
A.The AMD impact on humans and the environment generally depends on pH, metal contents,
and their toxicity. This can be calculated in different scenarios.
B. Evaluate the effect on Plant growth and productivity. High concentrations and/or certain
mixtures of heavy metals in plant tissues can affect plant growth in different manners. The calculated
concentration of Cu, Cd will be compared to standard value.
C. Evaluate the effect on human health. Make a summary of some of the heavy metals and their
effects on human health together with permissible limits.
D. Evaluate the effect of low pH. Calculate different possible pH, summary it’s effect to the
aquatic environment. For example, pH of 5-9 is the safe range for freshwater fish and for maximum
productivity, the pH should be maintained between 6.5 and 8.5.
Analysis of results
I Compare the trends found through our methods and assess their environmental and ecological impacts.
A. What is the impact of inorganic contamination of AMD on water quality (pH, alkalinity, and
salinity)?
i. Cadmium is the contaminant of most concern, along with lead and arsenic contributing to
abnormal levels. Crops (rice) fail to grow because of groundwater contamination. Concentration levels
analyzed against maximum contaminant levels suggested/regulated to identify targets for successful
remediation efforts.
B. Is there a spread of contaminants to the neighboring areas?
i. A 13.5 km sampling station in Shangba village is the point of interest. Here, water is used for
irrigation.
C. What are the negative impacts on population health, if any?

II. We can assess the pros and cons of alternative methods of remediation and determine which is most
practical approach.

A. Considering bioavailability of heavy metal, would introduction of a chelate reasonably increase

process efficiency?
I. Introduction of possible contaminated such as EDTA

B. Recommendation of plant species in phytoremediation

I. Considerations of “hyperaccumulators” most suitable to site location
II. biomass above/below ground.
Conclusion
I. We will provide a brief summary of:
A. Our project results (THE RISK ASSESSMENT) (WHICH IS WORST RESULT? BEST?
QUANTIFY)
 B. The advantages/disadvantages of heavy metal sequestration methods based on their
contributions to the water quality parameters examined in our project
C. The negative effects of acid mine drainage on the local environment and people
II. We will also provide suggestions on hazard control of contaminants
A. Investigation of sustainability of remediation efforts.
B. Consideration to fate of metal-rich biomass produced post remediation.
III. Recommendations of Future Work
A.Refining procedures to prevent unnecessary downstream pollution from point sources to
improve long-term water quality consistent with regulation. (WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION ACT,
ARTICLE 20.)
B. Performing more analyses to improve our understanding of the water quality issue
in Hengshi River while reducing generalizing assumptions made while conducting our method of analysis.