scholarly journals Induction of a geochemical barrier for As, Fe and S immobilization in a sulfide substrate

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 671-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Rodrigues de Assis ◽  
Luiz Eduardo Dias ◽  
Emerson Silva Ribeiro Jr ◽  
Walter Antônio Pereira Abrahão ◽  
Jaime Wilson Vargas de Mello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Geochemical Barrier ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Element Mobilization ◽  
Co Precipitation ◽  
The Impact

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is an environmental concern due to the risk of element mobilization, including toxic elements, and inclusion in the food chain. In this study, three cover layers were tested to minimize As, Fe and S mobilization from a substrate from former gold mining, containing pyrite and arsenopyrite. For this purpose, different layers (capillary break, sealant and cover layer) above the substrate and the induction of a geochemical barrier (GB) were used to provide suitable conditions for adsorption and co-precipitation of the mobilized As. Thirteen treatments were established to evaluate the leaching of As, Fe and S from a substrate in lysimeters. The pH, As, Fe, S, Na, and K concentrations and total volume of the leachates were determined. Mineralogical analyses were realized in the substrate at the end of the experimental period. Lowest amounts of As, Fe and S (average values of 5.47, 48.59 and 132.89 g/lysimeter) were leached in the treatments that received Na and K to induce GB formation. Mineralogical analyses indicated jarosite formation in the control treatment and in treatments that received Na and K salts. However, the jarosite amounts in these treatments were higher than in the control, suggesting that these salts accelerated the GB formation. High amounts of As, Fe and S (average values of 11.7, 103.94 and 201.13 g/lysimeter) were observed in the leachate from treatments without capillary break layer. The formation of geochemical barrier and the use of different layers over the sulfide substrate proved to be efficient techniques to decrease As, Fe and S mobilization and mitigate the impact of acid mine drainage.

scholarly journals Synthesis of Poly-Alumino-Ferric Sulphate Coagulant from Acid Mine Drainage by Precipitation

Metals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Mwewa ◽  
Srećko Stopić ◽  
Sehliselo Ndlovu ◽  
Geoffrey S. Simate ◽  
Buhle Xakalashe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Ferric Sulphate ◽  
Brewery Wastewater ◽  
Metal Mining ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Sludge Disposal ◽  
Co Precipitation

The wastes generated from both operational and abandoned coal and metal mining are an environmental concern. These wastes, including acid mine drainage (AMD), are treated to abate the devastating effects they have on the environment before disposal. However, AMD contains valuable resources that can be recovered to subsidize treatment costs. Two of the major constituents of coal AMD are iron and aluminium, which can be recovered and engineered to function as coagulants. This work examines the potential of producing a poly-alumino-ferric sulphate (AMD-PAFS) coagulant from coal acidic drainage solutions. The co-precipitation of iron and aluminium is conducted at pH values of 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 using sodium hydroxide in order to evaluate the recovery of iron and aluminium as hydroxide precipitates while minimizing the co-precipitation of the other heavy metals. The precipitation at pH 5.0 yields iron and aluminium recovery of 99.9 and 94.7%, respectively. An increase in the pH from 5.0 to 7.0 increases the recovery of aluminium to 99.1%, while the recovery of iron remains the same. The precipitate formed at pH 5.0 is used to produce a coagulant consisting of 89.5% and 10.0% iron and aluminium, respectively. The production of the coagulant is carried out by dissolving the precipitate in 5.0% (w/w) sulphuric acid. Subsequently, the treatment of the brewery wastewater shows that the AMD-PAFS coagulant is as efficient as the conventional poly ferric sulphate (PFS) coagulant. The turbidity removal is 91.9 and 87.8%, while the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal is 56.0 and 64.0% for AMD-PAFS and PFS coagulants, respectively. The developed process, which can easily be incorporated into existing AMD treatment plants, not only reduces the sludge disposal problems but also creates revenue from waste.

Mechanisms and Remediation Technologies of Sulfate Removal from Acid Mine Drainage

2012 ◽  
Vol 610-613 ◽  
pp. 3252-3256
Author(s):  
Mei Qin Chen ◽  
Feng Ji Wu
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Metal Corrosion ◽  
Sulfate Ion ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Biological Reduction ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Sulfate Removal ◽  
Co Precipitation

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has properties of extreme acidification, quantities of sulfate and elevated levels of soluble heavy metals. It was a widespread environmental problem that caused adverse effects to the qualities of ground water and surface water. In the past decades, most of investigations were focused on the heavy metals as their toxicities for human and animals. As another main constitution of AMD, sulfate ion is nontoxic, yet high concentration of sulfate ion can cause many problems such as soil acidification, metal corrosion and health problems. More attention should be paid on the sulfate ion when people focus on the AMD. In the paper, sulfate removal mechanisms include adsorption, precipitation, co-precipitation and biological reduction were analyzed and summarized. Meanwhile, the remediation technologies, especially the applications of them in China were also presented and discussed.

scholarly journals The impact of acid mine drainage (AMD) on the distribution of selected radionuclides in the sediments of two pit lakes in the Muskau Arch (western Poland)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilona Sekudewicz ◽  
Michał Gąsiorowski ◽  
Šárka Matoušková ◽  
Jan Rohovec ◽  
Karolina Kaucha
Keyword(s):  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Pit Lakes ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Formation and characterization of acid mine drainage in the Madzharovo ore field, Southeastern Bulgaria

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-50
Author(s):  
Svetlana Bratkova
Keyword(s):  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Sulfide Minerals ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Zinc Cadmium ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Cadmium Lead ◽  
The Impact

The formation of acid mine drainage (AMD) is a serious environmental problem in areas with mining and processing industries worldwide. Their generation is associated with chemical and biological processes of oxidation of sulfide minerals, mainly pyrite. Sources of AMD can be deposits of sulfide minerals and coal with a high content of pyrite sulfur, mining waste and some tailings. The impact of AMD on surface and groundwater in mining areas continues for decades after the cessation of extraction. An example of the negative impact of generated acid mine drainage on the state of surface waters is in the region of Madzharovo. Years after the cessation of mining, the waters at the discharge points "Momina Skala", "Harman Kaya" and "Pandak Dere" are characterized by low pH values and high concentrations of iron, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead and manganese.

scholarly journals Microbial Community Diversity Dynamics in Acid Mine Drainage and Acid Mine Drainage-Polluted Soils: Implication on Mining Water Irrigation Agricultural Sustainability

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rabelani Munyai ◽  
Henry Joseph Oduor Ogola ◽  
David Mxolisi Modise
Keyword(s):  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
The Impact

Environmental degradation related to mining-generated acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major global concern, contaminating surface and groundwater sources, including agricultural land. In the last two decades, many developing countries are expanding agricultural productivity in mine-impacted soils to meet food demand for their rapidly growing population. Further, the practice of AMD water (treated or untreated) irrigated agriculture is on the increase, particularly in water-stressed nations around the world. For sustainable agricultural production systems, optimal microbial diversity, and functioning is critical for soil health and plant productivity. Thus, this review presents up-to-date knowledge on the microbial structure and functional dynamics of AMD habitats and AMD-impacted agricultural soils. The long-term effects of AMD water such as soil acidification, heavy metals (HM), iron and sulfate pollution, greatly reduces microbial biomass, richness, and diversity, impairing soil health plant growth and productivity, and impacts food safety negatively. Despite these drawbacks, AMD-impacted habitats are unique ecological niches for novel acidophilic, HM, and sulfate-adapted microbial phylotypes that might be beneficial to optimal plant growth and productivity and bioremediation of polluted agricultural soils. This review has also highlighted the impact active and passive treatment technologies on AMD microbial diversity, further extending the discussion on the interrelated microbial diversity, and beneficial functions such as metal bioremediation, acidity neutralization, symbiotic rhizomicrobiome assembly, and plant growth promotion, sulfates/iron reduction, and biogeochemical N and C recycling under AMD-impacted environment. The significance of sulfur-reducing bacteria (SRB), iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB), and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) as key players in many passive and active systems dedicated to bioremediation and microbe-assisted phytoremediation is also elucidated and discussed. Finally, new perspectives on the need for future studies, integrating meta-omics and process engineering on AMD-impacted microbiomes, key to designing and optimizing of robust active and passive bioremediation of AMD-water before application to agricultural production is proposed.

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