Abstract: An improved method that requires no electricity or moving parts to increase lime utilization where pebble quicklime (CaO) and/or hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2) is used for mine drainage treatment. Lime utilization at such facilities has been historically poor due to the low solubility, high density, and large particle size of pebble quicklime. This invention takes two passive technologies, a diversion well-inspired MixWell system followed by a TROMPE-driven, air lift mixer for enhancing lime dissolution. It showed an estimated 40 to 57 percent reduction in lime usage.

Abstract: An improved method that requires no electricity or moving parts to increase lime utilization where pebble quicklime (CaO) and/or hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2) is used for mine drainage treatment. Lime utilization at such facilities has been historically poor due to the low solubility, high density, and large particle size of pebble quicklime. This invention takes two passive technologies, a diversion well-inspired MixWell system followed by a TROMPE-driven, air lift mixer for enhancing lime dissolution. It showed an estimated 40 to 57 percent reduction in lime usage.

Abstract: Dissolved metals are removed from contaminated water by passing the water through a bed containing media bodies, preferably limestone bodies. Various contaminants carried by the water become associated with the media bodies, thereby inhibiting water flow. The media bodies are rehabilitated by using an excavator, loader, or other machine to scoop them into a bucket having a peripheral wall including a sieve, immersing the container into a liquid held in a wash pit, rotating the bucket so that contaminants abraded from the bodies fall through the sieve into the pit, removing the container from the liquid, and dumping the rehabilitated media bodies from the bucket. When the media bodies have filtered mine drainage containing a particular dissolved metal such as manganese or iron for example, a residue remaining in the basin is a rich source of metal compounds that can be recovered for economic use.

Abstract: Dissolved metals are removed from contaminated water by passing the water through a bed containing media bodies, preferably limestone bodies. Various contaminants carried by the water become associated with the media bodies, thereby inhibiting water flow. The media bodies are rehabilitated by using an excavator, loader, or other machine to scoop them into a bucket having a peripheral wall including a sieve, immersing the container into a liquid held in a wash pit, rotating the bucket so that contaminants abraded from the bodies fall through the sieve into the pit, removing the container from the liquid, and dumping the rehabilitated media bodies from the bucket. When the media bodies have filtered mine drainage containing a particular dissolved metal such as manganese or iron for example, a residue remaining in the basin is a rich source of metal compounds that can be recovered for economic use.

Abstract: An adjustable outlet riser including a riser (54), a reducer (58) sealed to the riser (54), and an adjustable riser (56) having a tight but slidable fit with the reducer (58). A pond for treatment of aqueous solutions has a piping system dividing its interior into a plurality of cells, the piping system having separate headers for each cell, each header having an adjustable outlet riser in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: A passive treatment system for removing metals, especially manganese, from mine drainage and other aqueous solutions. The Hybrid Flow Pond (HFP) is an open, pond-like structure utilizing a horizontal or vertical operational flow path through a bed of treatment media together with a vertical flow path for flushing accumulated solids from the bed. The bed preferably contains basic steel slag, limestone, marble, blast furnace slag, other types of slag, organic material, or mixtures thereof. In another aspect of the Hybrid Flow Pond, a tiered piping system divides an interior of the treatment bed into cells. Each cell has its own header and adjustable riser whose output level can be raised or lowered to change the head experienced by each cell.

Abstract: The slag-only Vertical Flow Pond, which we have developed, is a passive treatment component capable of removing large concentrations of metals, especially manganese, from water to extremely low concentrations while neutralizing acidity and producing alkalinity. An improvement to this design is the Hybrid Flow Pond (HFP), which is a passive treatment system component that consists of an open, pond-like structure utilizing a horizontal operational flow path (or a vertical flow path if desired) with a vertical flush flow path. By creating flushing flow paths generally perpendicular to operational flow paths, the development of preferential flow paths that encourage short circuiting can be prevented. Additional head can be generated prior to flushing by adjusting the water level in the pond. Although any treatment media can be used with this system, the use of basic steel slag is particularly useful in the removal of metals, especially manganese from aqueous solutions.