Choosing purification systems for drainage water from abandoned mines in the Kizel Coal Field

The existing purification systems for acid water of mine drainage can be classified as active and passive. The passive methods include self-sustaining geochemical, biological and physical processes, and are therefore economic and, accordingly, preferable for abandoned mines. On the other hand, these methods have some constraints. The key parameters to govern the choice of a passive or active purification technique are the flow rate and acidity of water, including pH and the content of metal ions as hydrolysis of the latter goes with output of hydrogen ions in the solution. This study aimed to select purification systems for acid mine water discharged in the Kosva River in the Perm Krai. The analysis used the existing criteria and recommendations on mine drainage control, as well as the published generalized experience of acid sewage purification in abandoned mines. With that end in view, the following parameters were calculated: the water acidity (CaСО3 equivalent in mg/l), including рН and contents of Fe, Al and Mn, and the alkali load as the alkaline material mass (CaСО3 equivalent) required to neutralize daily infed mine water. The comparison of the calculated and recommended parameters shows that acidity of spill water mostly exceeds the optimal values for the efficient passive purification. Anyway, in case of the flows at relatively small rates, the passive techniques are only applicable given a series arrangement of treatment systems (channels, sediment-ponds, water-logged sites).

Fetisova N. N., Fetisov V. V. Choosing purification systems for drainage water from abandoned mines in the Kizel Coal Field. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2024;(1):109-124. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2024_1_0_109.

The study was supported by the Perm Scientific and Education Center for Rational Subsoil Use.

N.F. Fetisova, Cand. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), Researcher, Mining Institute of Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 614007, Perm, Russia, e-mail: fetisova.n.f@gmail.com, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2346-337X,
V.V. Fetisov, Cand. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), Associate Professor, Perm State National Research University, 614990, Perm, Russia, e-mail: fetisov.v.v@gmail.com, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4712-4265.

N.N. Fetisova, e-mail: fetisova.n.f@gmail.com.

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