Ein mit hochtoxischen Schwelwässern aus der Braunkohlenchemie gefülltes Tagebaurestloch (“Phenolsee”) wurde in einem interdisziplinären Projekt durch die gezielte Unterstützung der natürlichen Selbstreinigungskräfte zu einem ungefährlichen Ökosystem mit klarem Wasser. Grundlage des Erfolges war das Wissen um die Entstehung und die Eigenschaften von natürlichen Huminstoffsystemen und deren Funktionen in natürlichen Kreisläufen und Prozessen. Gealterte Deponiewässer der Carbochemie enthalten vergleichbare chaotisch strukturierte Makromoleküle.

A former open-cast pit was used as deposit for wastewater from lignite-pyrolysis processes until 1990. The lake formed was filled with highly toxic and dark phenolic water. Traditional remediation methods were not applicable and it was therefore necessary to develop a new ecologically and economically acceptable remediation strategy. The full-scale remediation of this lake was realized as the results of an interdisciplinary research by a team of chemists, microbiologists and hydrologists. The newly developed complex remediation strategy is mainly based on the knowledge of the chemistry of dissolved-organic matter systems. We could show the similarity of dissolved natural humic substances to the industrially formed black phenolic macromolecules formed in the wastewater deposit lake. Transfer of the knowledge originating from research on humic substances, their chemical reactions and microbiological interactions and on the hydrological behaviour of natural lakes helped to create a successful mild remediation strategy. As a result of the full-scale application, after 10 years now, a new ecosystem with clear water was formed without any danger for the environment.