Identifying environmental issues and remediation techniques for coal-mining affected surface water

确定煤矿开采影响地表水的环境问题和修复技术

• 批准号: 543859-2019
• 负责人: Wiseman, Steve
• 金额: $ 6.96万
• 依托单位: University of Lethbridge
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=692570
• 关键词: Identifying; environmental; issues; remediation; techniques

There are concerns about potential impacts of coal mining on aquatic environments. In the Eastern Slopes of Alberta, leachate from mining landscapes can be rich in selenium (Se) and have high concentrations of major ions, especially calcium, resulting in extreme water hardness in aquatic systems. Effects of selenium on aquatic environments, including aquatic organisms such as fish, are well studied. However, few methods have been developed to treat mine drainage and lessen effects of Se on aquatic systems, and those that have been developed are expensive. Extreme water hardness results in the deposition of calcite (a concretious layer of calcium carbonate), and alters water chemistry which can have adverse effects on the heath of aquatic organisms. With support from our industry partner, CST Canada Coal Limited, this research will explore a novel in situ method to reduce Se in mine drainage by applying the fundamental principles of microbial bioreactors. In addition, this work aims to generate a greater understanding of the effects of extreme water hardness on the health of aquatic ecosystems that receive mine drainage, especially populations of fish that use these ecosystems. The overall objective is to provide an inexpensive, large-scale remediation method for aquatic Se contamination, and to understand effects of water hardness on aquatic ecosystems in order to develop strategies to mitigate any adverse effects.

人们担心采煤对水环境的潜在影响。在阿尔伯塔的东部斜坡，采矿景观的渗滤液可能富含硒（Se），并具有高浓度的主要离子，特别是钙，导致水生系统中的水硬度极高。硒对水生环境，包括鱼类等水生生物的影响已得到充分研究。然而，很少有方法已经开发出来，以处理矿井排水和减少硒对水生系统的影响，那些已经开发的是昂贵的。极端的水硬度导致方解石（碳酸钙的混凝土层）的沉积，并改变水的化学性质，这可能对水生生物的健康产生不利影响。在我们的行业合作伙伴CST Canada Coal Limited的支持下，本研究将探索一种新的原位方法，通过应用微生物生物反应器的基本原理来减少矿井排水中的硒。此外，这项工作的目的是更好地了解极端水硬度对接受矿井排水的水生生态系统健康的影响，特别是使用这些生态系统的鱼类种群。总体目标是提供一种廉价的，大规模的修复方法，水生硒污染，并了解水硬度对水生生态系统的影响，以制定战略，以减轻任何不利影响。