The Use of Bench-scale Treatability Studies in the Design of Engineered Wetlands for the Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) and Leachate in the Vicinity of Coal MinesA Case Study in Ohio, United States

Engineered wetland systems are a passive treatment technology which are versatile, environmentally-friendly, and cost-effective for the remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD) and leachate.Experience derived from a site in Ohio, United States, showed that the preliminary design of an engineered wetland system downstream of a former coal mine/landfill could be significantly improved by the performance of bench-scale treatability studies. Results from the bench-scale treatability study showed that in order to achieve significant reductions of iron in the water discharging to the surface water bodies. The pH of the water would have to be increased to 8 by the addition of limestone.