ABSTRACT
Research into the use of peat/wetland treatment for heavy metal removal from acid mine drainage has increased. A peat/wetland demonstration project was designed and constructed in 1988 to determine the ability of various wetland treatment configurations to remove heavy metals. The wetland treatment cells were constructed using peat with a low degree of decomposition. These types of fibrous peats have good hydraulic conductivity, allowing a uniform distribution of seepage water within the peat. Heavy metal removal efficiency is generally based on the characteristics of the peat such as pH, organic content, fiber characteristics, hydraulic conductivity, flow patterns, water level, residence times, and sulfate and organic availability. An initial treatment system with limestone and peat mixture beds was designed for metals removal from the stockpile drainage. The use of a peat/wetland treatment system has shown excellent results for heavy metal removal. The use of a passive peat/wetland treatment system requires little operational maintenance.
