ABSTRACT
Acid mine drainage (AMD) or acid rock drainage poses widespread environmental and economic problems for many countries. AMD is an unavoidable by-product of mining and mineral industries, which are characterized by high concentrations of dissolved heavy metals, sulfate, and low pH, and continues to be an important water pollution problem in the mining industry around the world. AMD is generated in underground or opencast mines, but during the mining process, the rising of the water table is controlled by water pumping and AMD generation is minimized. The weathering of sulfide minerals accounts for most of the surface water and groundwater contamination that result from mining activities. The most common method used for treatment of acid mine water is an active treatment process involving addition of a chemical-neutralizing alkaline agent. Aerobic wetlands promote mixed oxidation and hydrolysis reactions and are most effective when the raw mine water is alkaline.
