Journal
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
Volume 557, Issue -, Pages 212-220Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.209
Keywords
Acid mine drainage; Operating mine; Selective precipitation; Cu/Zn Sulfide; Recovery rate
Categories
Funding
- Basic Research Project of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) [16-3414]
- Technology Innovation Program (Development of Mine Waste Zero Emission Technology) - Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE, Korea) [10048620]
- MSIP
- POSTECH
- National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), Republic of Korea [16-3414] Funding Source: Korea Institute of Science & Technology Information (KISTI), National Science & Technology Information Service (NTIS)
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Acid mine drainage (AMD) generated from mining activities has been recognized as a serious problem due to its increased acidity and high concentration of heavy metals. In this research, a feasibility test of the selective precipitation (SP) process was performed using AMD discharged from a currently operating mine in Korea for the purpose of minimizing the environmental impact of AMD. For the SP process, a pilot scale equipment (100 L reaction tank) was used in field and among various metals, Cu and Zn were the target metals. Through the research, it was confirmed that AMD from an operating mine has two disadvantages of being applied to the SP: altering water quality and unexpected inclusion of clay debris. Despite unfavorable conditions, Cu and Zn precipitate of 80% purity with 90% precipitation rate was able to be obtained from 1.4 L/min (2.0 tons/day) AMD. The recovered precipitates were identified as amorphous CuS and ZnS with small amounts of impurities (Si minerals, CuFeS2, and Fe/Al hydroxide). The strategies to reduce these impurities were also discussed. Recovery rate, which is the amount of precipitate collected per unit volume of AMD, was proposed as an indicator to evaluate the working efficiency of the SP process. It was confirmed that the recovery rate was strongly dependent on flow rate and dose of coagulant. The results of this study may be helpful in reducing the potential complications which occurs when SP is applied on field. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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