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Project title

Assessment and optimization of constructed wetlands for treating metal contaminated waste waters.

Primary Funding Agency

Irish Research Council

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University of Limerick (UL)

Lead Applicant

n/a

Project Abstract

While a vibrant mining industry is essential to economic growth it is acknowledged that the historic record for minerals extraction has a poor environmental track record. Extraction and processing of metals such as copper, zinc and lead has resulted in significant mine waste stockpiles that continue to pose pollution risk several decades after operations have ceased. As well as being prone to dust generation, the waste piles generate effluent due to water infiltration and run-off. This effluent is often elevated in potentially toxic elements and can exhibit pH extremes. The clean-up of such sites is required by legislation as well as being environmentally desirable. However, due to the significant volumes disposed, application of technologies including addition of chemicals and pumping can run to significant costs, particularly as treatment is required over several decades. Increasingly, use of passive approaches such as constructed wetlands are viewed as an alternative approach where specially selected plants and soil substrates are chosen to cleanse the waste from the leachate through biogeochemical mechanisms. This project will characterise waste water from a number of mine waste legacy sites as well as from modern facilities to inform the development of a constructed wetland for treating mine waste water. Identification of key contaminants in the waste water samples will inform trials to determine and optimise metal removal mechanisms. Subsequent trials will assess vegetation growth in mine waste waters to determine critical levels for plant growth and performance as well as to highlight potential stress and toxicity in contaminated waters. Findings from the trials will then inform the building of a pilot constructed wetland to monitor metal removal efficiency.

Grant Approved

�110,000.00

Research Hub

n/a

Research Theme

Ireland's Future Climate, its Impacts, and Adaptation Options

Start Date

01/09/2022

Initial Projected Completion Date

31/08/2026