ABSTRACT
Open limestone systems have been widely used to treat acid mine drainage (AMD) in Appalachia, especially for abandoned mine lands, but their treatment effectiveness has been variable. This study was conducted to understand the effects of limestone surface area, iron concentration of the AMD, and coating thickness on limestone neutralization of AMD. Based on the derived equations and field conditions, a computer model is developed to dynamically predict the outlet water quality in open limestone systems. By inputting the initial water quality data and site properties, outlet water quality can be calculated. The model can be easily modified to incorporate cost analysis. The model can be used to optimize the design of a new open limestone system for a particular acid mine drainage.
