New Approach of Metals Removal from Acid Mine Drainage
Radmila Marković, Masahiko Bessho, Nobuyuki Masuda, Zoran Stevanović, Dragana Božić, Tatjana Apostolovski – Trujić, Vojka Gardić
Abstract
The possibility of metal removal from the real acid mine drainage (AMD) in the area of copper ore mines in the southeast Serbia, was investigated through a combination of neutralization and adsorption methods. This approach of metal removal from AMD includes a two-step neutralization method in the first phase, aiming to separate metals as sludge. The results of laboratory test revealed that more than 99 mass % of Fe is removed up to pH 4 and more than 99 mass % of Cu up to pH 7. Based on the results obtained in laboratory conditions, a test on a semi industrial plant was carried out. The two-step neutralization separately removed Fe and Cu at pH 4 and 7, respectively. Especially, the obtained sludge at pH 7 included 1.24 mass % of Cu, much higher than usual Cu ore. Chitosan was applied for dissolved Mn removal from treated AMD. After 24 h incubation, 70 mass % of Mn is removed from the treated AMD at pH 7.4. Mn concentration was reduced from approx. 35 mg L−1 to 5 mg L−1. These results have indicated that a combination of neutralization and adsorption methods could be used effectively for metal removal from real AMD.