Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage Using Un- Activated Bentonite and Limestone
The use of un-activated bentonite, and un-activated
bentonite blended with limestone for the treatment of acid mine
drainage (AMD) was investigated. Batch experiments were
conducted in a 5 L PVC reactor. Un-activated bentonite on its own
did not effectively neutralize and remove heavy metals from AMD.
The final pH obtained was below 4 and the metal removal efficiency
was below 50% for all the metals when bentonite solid loadings of 1,
5 and 10% were used. With un-activated bentonite (1%) blended with
1% limestone, the final pH obtained was approximately 7 and metal
removal efficiencies were greater than 60% for most of the metals.
The Langmuir isotherm gave the best fit for the experimental data
giving correlation coefficient (R2) very close to 1. Thus, it was
concluded that un-activated bentonite blended with limestone is
suitable for potential applications in removing heavy metals and
neutralizing AMD.
[1] C. A. Cravotta III, and M. K. Trahan "Limestone drains to increase pH
and removes dissolved metals from acidic mine drainage," Applied
Geochemistry, vol. 14, pp. 581-606, 1999.
[2] Expert team of the inter-ministerial committee under the coordination of
the Council for Geoscience, Mine Water Management in the
Witwatersrand Gold Fields with Special emphasis on Acid Mine
Drainage, RSA: Council for Geoscience, December, 2010.
[3] R.S. Hedin, R.W. Nairn, and R.L.P. Kleinmann, Passive treatment of
coal mine drainage, US: Bureau of Mines Special Publication SP 06A,
1994, pp. 185-194.
[4] J.A. Webb, and I.D. Sasowsky, "The interaction of acid mine drainage
with a carbonate terrane Tennesse," Journal of Hydrology, vol. 161, pp.
327-346, September, 1994.
[5] M.M. Matlock, B.S. Howerton, and D.A. Atwood, "Chemical
precipitation of heavy metals from acid mine drainage," Water Research,
vol. 36, pp. 4757-4764, November, 2002.
[6] H. Zhang, Z. Tong, T. Wei, and Y. Tang, "Removal characteristics of
Zn(II) from aqueous solution by Ca-bentonite," Desalination, vol. 276,
issue 1-3, pp. 103-108, August, 2011.
[7] V.N. Agnello, "Bentonite pyrophyllite and talc in the Republic of South
Africa," Department of Mineral and Energy, Directorate: Mineral
Economics, Pretoria, 2005.
[8] F. Enslin, , V. Mey, L. and F. Waanders, "Acid leaching of heavy metals
from bentonite clay, used in the cleaning of acid mine drainage," The
Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy,
vol.110, pp. 187-191, April, 2010.
[9] F.B. Waanders, "Environmental Management programme report for
Proposed clay quarry prospects on the farm Mara ÔÇÿA- 854. Kroonstand
District, Free State Province," for: Tradeworks 25 (Pty) Ltd
Potchefstroom, 2003, unpublished.
[1] C. A. Cravotta III, and M. K. Trahan "Limestone drains to increase pH
and removes dissolved metals from acidic mine drainage," Applied
Geochemistry, vol. 14, pp. 581-606, 1999.
[2] Expert team of the inter-ministerial committee under the coordination of
the Council for Geoscience, Mine Water Management in the
Witwatersrand Gold Fields with Special emphasis on Acid Mine
Drainage, RSA: Council for Geoscience, December, 2010.
[3] R.S. Hedin, R.W. Nairn, and R.L.P. Kleinmann, Passive treatment of
coal mine drainage, US: Bureau of Mines Special Publication SP 06A,
1994, pp. 185-194.
[4] J.A. Webb, and I.D. Sasowsky, "The interaction of acid mine drainage
with a carbonate terrane Tennesse," Journal of Hydrology, vol. 161, pp.
327-346, September, 1994.
[5] M.M. Matlock, B.S. Howerton, and D.A. Atwood, "Chemical
precipitation of heavy metals from acid mine drainage," Water Research,
vol. 36, pp. 4757-4764, November, 2002.
[6] H. Zhang, Z. Tong, T. Wei, and Y. Tang, "Removal characteristics of
Zn(II) from aqueous solution by Ca-bentonite," Desalination, vol. 276,
issue 1-3, pp. 103-108, August, 2011.
[7] V.N. Agnello, "Bentonite pyrophyllite and talc in the Republic of South
Africa," Department of Mineral and Energy, Directorate: Mineral
Economics, Pretoria, 2005.
[8] F. Enslin, , V. Mey, L. and F. Waanders, "Acid leaching of heavy metals
from bentonite clay, used in the cleaning of acid mine drainage," The
Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy,
vol.110, pp. 187-191, April, 2010.
[9] F.B. Waanders, "Environmental Management programme report for
Proposed clay quarry prospects on the farm Mara ÔÇÿA- 854. Kroonstand
District, Free State Province," for: Tradeworks 25 (Pty) Ltd
Potchefstroom, 2003, unpublished.
@article{"International Journal of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Sciences:57124", author = "Thembelihle Nkonyane and Freeman Ntuli and Edison Muzenda", title = "Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage Using Un- Activated Bentonite and Limestone", abstract = "The use of un-activated bentonite, and un-activated
bentonite blended with limestone for the treatment of acid mine
drainage (AMD) was investigated. Batch experiments were
conducted in a 5 L PVC reactor. Un-activated bentonite on its own
did not effectively neutralize and remove heavy metals from AMD.
The final pH obtained was below 4 and the metal removal efficiency
was below 50% for all the metals when bentonite solid loadings of 1,
5 and 10% were used. With un-activated bentonite (1%) blended with
1% limestone, the final pH obtained was approximately 7 and metal
removal efficiencies were greater than 60% for most of the metals.
The Langmuir isotherm gave the best fit for the experimental data
giving correlation coefficient (R2) very close to 1. Thus, it was
concluded that un-activated bentonite blended with limestone is
suitable for potential applications in removing heavy metals and
neutralizing AMD.", keywords = "acid mine drainage, bentonite, limestone, heavy
metal removal.", volume = "6", number = "8", pages = "756-6", }