Past

The intense mining activity being done throughout history in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (FPI), has led to the existence of more than 100 abandoned mines and about 2x10 ⁸ m ³ of tailings scattered in dumps, deposits sludge, open pits, etc..

These degraded areas are the main source of contamination of ground and surface Odiel Basin waters due to acid mine drainage generated.

Acid mine drainage (AMD English, Acid Mine Drainage) are waters, having interacted with certain metal sulfides, mainly pyrite, suffer a decrease in pH to acidic values, as well as a significant increase in the concentration of dissolved metal species .

This interaction, in the form of oxidation, is favored in mining areas because of the ease with which the air comes into contact with the sulfur (by mining operations and access by the pores in cells sterile and waste ) and the increase of the contact surface of the particles.

An alternative to conventional treatment of acid mine drainage, whether the facilities are in operation and abandonment, which are passive treatment methods, due to their low cost of construction, easy operation and maintenance.

Research into new methods for the treatment of this acidic water is crucial to achieving quality improvement and gradual recovery of the polluted river network.

 This project is a continuation and implementation of numerous investigations in recent years have led to a possible solution using the passive treatment of acid shock. These passive treatments such as Calizo Anoxic Drain (ALD), Producers and Alkalinity Reduction Systems (RAPS), Sulfate Reducing Bioreactors or once implanted only require infrequent maintenance, but regular.