Passive treatment systems are commonly used for remediation of mine drainage waters because they do not require continuous chemical inputs and operation. In this study, the selection and design criteria for such systems were evaluated, particularly the two most commonly used ones, i.e., permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) and vertical flow biological reactors (VFBRs). PRBs and VFBRs are operated on the same principles in terms of biochemical reaction mechanisms, whereas differences relate to configuration, engineering, and water management. In this study, each of these systems were described with respect to key design variables, such as metal removal mechanisms and removal rates, effectiveness and longevity, general design and construction, flow capacity, and cost. The information provided from this study could be used as a design guideline when a passive treatment option is considered for potential remediation of a mine site.

Keywords: Passive treatment system;Mine drainage water;Permeable reactive barrier;Vertical flow biological reactor;Design;