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Eastern Market Report
Recovering Resources from Mine Drainage
Pennsylvania is promoting the recovery of usable raw materials from acid mine
drainage. The process could have a positive impact on the state’s economy
and environment.
“Pennsylvania taxpayers and businesses spend more than $12 million each
year to treat 23 billion gallons of acid mine drainage from active and abandoned
coal mines,” Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said.
“The sludge from these treatment systems contains millions of dollars
worth of dissolved iron, aluminum, manganese, gold and rare earth metals in
consistent and sustainable amounts. Yet, we treat this material as waste rather
than a resource.”
Representatives from industry, government and science have been meeting to explore
technological solutions and locate funding opportunities.
Some Pennsylvania companies already are developing technology to use metals
recovered from acid mine drainage in place of virgin powder needed to manufacture
lightweight but strong bearings. Others are recovering iron oxide from acid
mine drainage for use as a pigment to color paints and coatings, cement-based
products, plastics, paper and mulch.
Pilot resource recovery projects are under way at acid mine drainage sites in
Pennsylvania, involving monitoring and metallurgical studies, experiments with
electro-coagulation of dissolved metals, and collection and preparation of iron
oxide, aluminum and manganese for use as raw materials by industry.