Acid mine drainage treatment on bench scale wetland with saccharum bengalense

Abstract

The treatability study of acid mine drainage (AMD) by constructed wetland in 1 m³ bench scale biological treatment test cells with substrate (containing powdered goat manure, wood shavings and soil) and well grown indigenous wetland plant species saccharum bengalense was carried out. The experiments were conducted for different water column heights (100, 150 and 200 mm). The performance of the system was evaluated for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 h of retention period. The experimental results show the potential for removal of pollutants from acid mine water by constructed wetland treatment system on bench scale below the relevant permissible level subscribed by Bureau of Indian Standards and Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) after 24 h of retention period except lead where input concentration was high. Further retention up to 168 h revealed that the reduction of pollutants was not proportionate to retention time.