W.Va. Power Plant Uses Selenium-Removal Technology
Charleston Gazette
22 April 2011
By The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - American Electric's coal-fired power plant in
Mason County will be the first in West Virginia to use a new technology
that removes selenium from its wastewater.
The naturally occurring element is harmless in small amounts but can be
toxic to aquatic life at high concentrations.
The Mountaineer Power Plant is installing a $27 million system called
ABMet, or Advanced Biological Metals Removal.
Spokeswoman Melissa McHenry tells West Virginia Public Broadcasting
that AEP is trying to get ahead of new nationwide selenium limits that
will go into effect next year.
System inventor Tim Pickett says it's basically a biological filter
that uses a special kind of bacteria-laced carbon enclosed in a tank
that holds the wastewater.
The metals sink to the bottom and cleaner water is discharged.