Hkaung et al. (2026): Enhanced rock weathering in acid mine drainage systems: Field evidence and passive treatment implications

Htut San Hkaung, Naito Yamashita, Nono Kimotsuki, Fugo Nakamura, Frances Chikanda, Ryosuke Kikuchi, Yoko Ohtomo, Tsubasa Otake and Tsutomu Sato, IN: Cleaner Engineering and Technology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2026.101203

Despite basalt-based Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) showing promise in croplands, identifying alternative application sites is crucial for scaling carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and maximizing co-benefits. This study investigated acid mine drainage (AMD) systems as potential ERW sites, emphasizing the use of mining waste rock as reactive material. AMD environments are naturally acidic and characterized by continuous flow, conditions that accelerate mineral dissolution and enhance ERW effectiveness. Field-scale ERW trials were conducted in two AMD-impacted rivers in Japan using locally sourced basaltic waste rock (1–2 mm). At each site, one ton of crushed rock was deployed: (1) Yoshioka basaltic andesite (Yk) in the Amemasu River, and (2) Tetsuzan basalt (Tz) in the Shojin River.

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