ACID
MINE DRAINAGE:
The generation of
acid and subsequent leaching of heavy metals from waste rock material created primarily
from mining operations. The leachate can contaminate surface and groundwater sources
with acid and heavy metals. Work started
with the US Bureau of Mines, and has been supported by the US Bureau of Land Management
and Chevron Mining Inc. to
design and operate humidity cell testing and to
develop two mathematical models, one that describes humidity cell
testing and another that simulates an actual waste rock pile
at a mining site.
SELENIUM REMOVAL:
A project,
originally supported by Kennecott Utah Copper, to determine the optimum conditions in
which a ferrous iron process, developed at the US Bureau of Reclamation, can effectively
remove selenium from commercial waste streams to below detection limits.
BIOFUELS:
Development
of a new process for generating biofuels from synthesis gas using
bacteria.
BIOREMEDIATION:
- The
removal of heavy metals and other contaminants from wastewaters using
immobilized biomass in a porous polymeric bead. Work initially started
as a collaboration with former US Bureau of Mines.