New Approach of Metals Removal from Acid Mine Drainage

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 f...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Radmila Markovic, Masahiko Bessho, Nobuyuki Masuda, Zoran Stevanovic, Dragana Bozic, Tatjana Apostolovski Trujic, Vojka Gardic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/17/5925
Description
Summary: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<sup>−1</sup> to 5 mg L<sup>−1</sup>. These results have indicated that a combination of neutralization and adsorption methods could be used effectively for metal removal from real AMD.
ISSN:2076-3417