Carmen Mihaela Neculita

Solutions for Contaminated Water from Mines

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Acid mine drainage is one of the major environmental challenges faced by the mining industry worldwide. It involves the outflow of acidic water (water with low pH levels and high concentrations of heavy metals and sulphates), usually from abandoned metal mines.

Passive biological treatment is considered a long-lasting solution for treating acid mine drainage, but practical applications still need to be developed. For example, several current passive treatments have not provided satisfactory results for the removal of iron and manganese.

Dr. Carmen Neculita, Canada Research Chair in Passive Treatment of Contaminated Mine Waters, aims to increase the use and understanding of biogeochemical techniques to improve the efficiency and prolong the lifespans of passive treatment systems. Neculita is conducting laboratory testing and geochemical modelling, and is comparing lab results to those measured at contaminated mine sites.

She is also researching the use of microbial fuel cells—a promising new technique that transforms chemical energy into electrical energy—for acid mine drainage treatment.

Neculita’s research will result in significant advances in the passive treatment of acid mine drainage, and will provide useful information to mining companies and governments who manage abandoned mines.