Evaluating Acid Mine Waste as a Soil Amendment

Ethan Wimer* and Leslie Hopkinson

Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6103

Presentation Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering (Poster Presentation #154)

Student’s Major: Civil and Environmental Engineering

There is potential to use Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) as a tool for reclamation of disturbed areas. The objective of this research is to test the usefulness of a processed form of AMD as a soil amendment. First, AMD waste samples were evaluated for toxicity taking into consideration the Rule of 20. Common characteristics of healthy soils were compiled. A small-scale growth study will be performed by monitoring separate plant growth with different levels of the processed AMD added. Ground cover and stem height will be measured weekly, and biomass will be measured at the end of the growth period. Results of the toxicity characterization indicated that levels of Arsenic, Barium, Calcium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury, Selenium and Silver met regulatory limits, suggesting potential for land application of AMD waste. Future work for this research includes testing the effectiveness economically and in application of AMD compared to commercial soil amendments, and testing what types of soil AMD is most beneficial to.

Funding:

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU's Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) & accompanying HONR 297-level course