Development of hydrogeochemical monitoring for mine water treatment
New research approaches for minimizing concentrations
About 70 million cubic meters of mine water are being released alone in the Ruhr area by the central dewatering stations of the RAG into the rivers Emscher, Lippe and Ruhr. This data comes from the ‘Bezirksregierung Arnsberg’ (District Council Arnsberg). These mine waters contain partially higher amounts of dissolved sulphur compounds and chloride.
Scientists of the Research Center of Post-Mining will develop in the framework of this project a hydrogeochemical model based on current monitoring efforts. This model will allow simulating the turnover of sulphur through sulphide oxidation and reduction.Thereby, a comprehensive understanding of all processes during mine water rise will be established. On this basis, it will be possible to make reliable predictions on the geochemical evolution of the mine waters. Investigations cover the Ruhr area, the Saarland and Ibbenbüren.
About 70 million cubic meters of mine water are being released alone in the Ruhr area by the central dewatering stations of the RAG into the rivers Emscher, Lippe and Ruhr. This data comes from the ‘Bezirksregierung Arnsberg’ (District Council Arnsberg). These mine waters contain partially higher amounts of dissolved sulphur compounds and chloride. Scientists of the FZN will develop in the framework of this project a hydrogeochemical model based on current monitoring efforts. This model will allow simulating the turnover of sulphur through sulphide oxidation and reduction.Thereby, a comprehensive understanding of all processes during mine water rise will be established. On this basis, it will be possible to make reliable predictions on the geochemical evolution of the mine waters. Investigations cover the Ruhr area, the Saarland and Ibbenbüren. The goal of the scientists is to protect the environment in the best way and to control the hydrogeochemical processes in the mine water in such a way that mine water quality is enhanced, and hence the infrastructure of underground installations protected within the framework of sustainability.
The project is supported by the RAG AG until 2024.
Project objectives
- Investigations on the sulphur cycle in mine waters
- Investigation of all relevant parameters controlling sulphide oxidation, bacterial sulphate reduction and methanogenesis
- Geochemical modelling of sulphide oxidation, bacterial sulphate reduction and sulphide corrosion in the mine water system
- Development of a hydrogeochemical model for follow-up hydrologic modelling
Contact
Dipl.-Geol. Henning Jasnowski-Peters
Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola, University
Herner Street 45
44787 Bochum
Building 2, room 104a
Phone 0234 968 3688
Mail henning.jasnowski-peters@thga.de
Dr. Barbara Teichert
Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola, University
Herner Street 45
44787 Bochum
Building 2, room 104a
Phone 0234 968 3802
Mail barbara.teichert@thga.de
Prof. Dr. Christian Melchers
Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola, University
Herner Street 45
44787 Bochum
Building 2, room 104b
Phone 0234 968 3280
Mail christian.melchers@thga.de
EN 
DE