Abstract
Geogenic acidification results from the oxidation of sulfidic minerals that had been stable for millennia because of anaerobic conditions in the underground. The geochemical process is microbially intensified and therefore a natural process. However, it is also man-made, because the sulfidic minerals are oxidized as a consequence of aeration due to mining activities. Open-cast lignite mining starts with the dewatering of the overburden, of the lignite and of the uppermost layers below the coal. Pyrite and marcasite are then in contact with atmospheric oxygen instead of anaerobic groundwater. The acidity results from the oxidation of sulfur and iron and from the hydrolysis of iron (see also Evangelou, this Vol.). Bodies of water become acidified when the sulfuric acid and iron (II)-sulfate are leached and transported into the lake by the groundwater. In the case of refilling with groundwater, the resulting mining lakes are acidic, with pH between 2 and 3. Their water is brown because of the high content of dissolved iron hydroxide. The low pH is strongly buffered by iron. Other heavy metals formerly present in the overburden are dissolved and contaminate the lake water. Living conditions differ widely from those in natural lakes in Germany.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benndorf J (1994) Sanierungsmaßnahmen in Binnengewässern: Auswirkungen auf die trophische Struktur. Limnologica 24: 121–135
Brettschneider U, Pöpel HJ (1992) Sulfatentfernung aus Wasser. Wasser Abwasser Praxis 1: 298–304
Brown RL (1971) Removal of nitrogen of tile drainage - a summary report. EPA. Bio-engineering aspects of agricultural drainage, rep no. 13030 ELY 7/71, West Raleigh, North Carolina
Fichtner N (1983) Verfahren zur Nitrateliminierung im Gewässer. Acta Hydrochim Hydrobiol 11: 339–345
Glässer W, Klapper H (1992) Stoffflüsse beim Füllprozeß von Bergbaurestseen - Entscheidungsvorbereitung für die Sanierung von Tagebaulandschaften. In: Boden, Wasser und Luft. Umweltvorsorge in der AGF. Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Großforschungseinrichtungen, Bonn, pp 19–23
Hedin RS (1989) Treatment of coal mine drainage with constructed wetlands. In: Majumbar SK et al. (eds) Wetland. Ecology and conservation: emphasis in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvanian Academy of Science, pp 349–362
Jones JR (1971) Denitrification by anaerobic filters and ponds - phase II. EPA. Bio- engineering aspects of agricultural drainage, rep no 13030 ELY 06/71–74, West Raleigh, North Carolina
Kelly C (1994) Biological processes that affect water chemistry. In: Steinberg CE, Wright RF (eds) Acidification of freshwater ecosystems: implications for the future. Wiley, Chichester, pp 201–215
Klapper H (1991) Control of eutrophication in inland waters. Ellis Horwood, Chichester
Klapper H, Schultze M (1993) Das Füllen von Braunkohlerestseen. Wasserwirtschaft Wassertechnik 43: 34 – 36
Klapper H, Schultze M (1995) Geogenically acidified mining lakes - living conditions and possibilities of restoration. Int Revue Ges Hydrobiol 80: 639–653
Kleinmann RLP, Crerar DA, Pacilli RR (1981) Biogeochemistry of acid mine drainage and a method to control acid formation. Mining Eng 33: 300–304
Kreutzer K (1994) The influence of catchment management processes in forests on the recovery in fresh waters. In: Steinberg CE, Wright RF (eds) Acidification of freshwater ecosystems: implications for the future. Wiley, Chichester, pp 325–344
Luckner L, Eichhorn D, Gockel G, Seidel K-H (1995) Durchführbarkeitsstudie zur Rehabilitation des Wasserhaushaltes der Niederlausitz auf der Grundlage vorhandener Lösungsansätze. Dresdner Grundwasserforschungszentrum, Dresden
Mitsch WJ (1993) Ecological engineering; a cooperative role with the planetary life- support system. Environ Sei Technol 27: 438–445
Olem H (1991) Liming acidic surface waters. Lewis, Chelsea
Onysko SJ, Kleinmann RLP, Erickson PM (1984) Ferrous iron oxidation by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans: inhibition with benzoic acid, sorbic acid and sodium lauryl sulfate. Appl Environ Microbiol 48:229–231
Ripl W, Gerlach-Koppelmeyer I, Wolter K-D (1992) Steuerung des Wasser- und Stoffhaushaltes in einer durch Braunkohlentagebau geschädigten Landschaft für die Wiederherstellung ihrer nachhaltigen Nutzbarkeit. Bericht TU Berlin und Gesellschaft für Gewässerbewirtschaftung GmbH (unpublished report)
Schultze M, Geller W (1996) The acid lakes of the East-German lignite mining district. In: Reuter R (ed) Geochemical approaches for environmental engineering of metals. Environmental science series. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 89–105
Sword BR (1971) Denitrification by anaerobic filters and ponds. EPA. Bio-engineering aspects of agricultural drainage, rep no 13030 ELY 04/71–8, West Raleigh, North Carolina
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Klapper, H., Friese, K., Scharf, B., Schimmele, M., Schultze, M. (1998). Ways of Controlling Acid by Ecotechnology. In: Geller, W., Klapper, H., Salomons, W. (eds) Acidic Mining Lakes. Environmental Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71954-7_22
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71954-7_22
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-71956-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-71954-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive