Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S66978/01
Title:	Chemical, Biochemical & Physical Constraints during Mine Water Treatment using Vertical Flow Accretion Systems
Principal Investigator:	Williams, Professor KP
Other Investigators:	Younger, Professor PL Jarvis, Professor AP
Researcher Co-Investigators:	Dr M Dey Dr L Liang
Project Partners:	Coal Authority Mouchel Parkman
Department:	Sch of Engineering
Organisation:	Cardiff University
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 August 2004	Ends:	31 July 2007	Value (£):	258,125
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Assess/Remediate Contamination
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Environment
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Current best practice for the passive treatment of net alkaline ferruginous mine waters in the UK generally involves pre-treatment to reduce the influent iron concentration to less than 10mg/I (typically through cascade aeration and settlement) followed by final polishing in surface-flow wetlands. The 'upfront' removal of iron reduces the stress on the wetland plants, prolongs the life of the wetland and leads to a more effective sludge management. However, in order to achieve sufficient iron removal in the settlement lagoons, very large areas must be designed due to the slow settling rates of the precipitated iron.Cardiff University in partnership with Newcastle University are developing an alternative and novel approach for the pre-treatment stage using a verticalflow pond with a free standing accreting ochre bed on top of a gravel support. Initial results indicate that this approach requires far less area than a conventional sedimentation pond and has a greater iron removal capability.It is proposed that this study will focus on two areas;1. the chemical mechanisms of Fe(II) removal and2. the physical constraints that control the operation of the treatment system.The appreciation of these control processes will then enable the optimisation of the process and give the ability to obtain specific design and operation parameters for the treatment system.
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