removal of pollutants and natural organic compounds from acid mine drainage using a combination of bentonite clay and MgSO4

200 mL of synthetic acid mine drainage (AMD) sample was poured into five 500 mL glass beakers and treated in a jar test and a shaker in sets of experiments, respectively. The samples were treated in small-scale laboratory experiments using synthetic AMD sample dosed with bentonite clay and MgSO4 respectively, and a flocculant consisting of the same reagents. The pH, EC, turbidity and oxidation reduction potential were measured. The removal of turbid materials in the samples dosed with a flocculant is higher compared to those of the samples dosed with each reagent alone. The samples with flocculant dosage show high removal efficiency of natural organic compounds and toxic metals, slightly higher compared to those with a dosage of a combination of bentonite clay and MgSO4. The removal efficiency of the samples treated in a shaker is better than those with rapid mixing. The SEM micrographs shows sorption is a physico-chemical phenomenon.

Automated summary

The experimental results indicate that samples dosed with a combination of reagents show better removal efficiency of natural organic compounds and toxic metals, and samples treated in a shaker have higher removal efficiency compared to rapid mixing. Additionally, SEM micrographs show that sorption is a physico-chemical phenomenon.