Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is an untreated outflow of acidic water from metal or coal mines. Improper treatment of the harmful effluent causes major environmental concern and remains as an unsolved problem for mining operators worldwide. The untreated AMD contains high concentration of several heavy metals despite low pH level. Iron (Fe) is most dominant element of heavy metal spotted in the AMD water and must be filtered and treated before being released to open water bodies. Current practises by the industries adopted two categories of AMD treatment methods, namely active and passive treatments. Passive treatment method was adopted into this study by using successive alkalinity producing system (SAPS) to reduce Fe concentration in the AMD. Strict regulations by mine operators to acquire on-site AMD, led to use of synthetic AMD. Peat soil was introduced as organic substrate treatment media, as compared to common materials used such as mushroom spent, wood shaving and animal manure. In this research the peat soil was characterized and its effectiveness to filter the Fe content was assessed using laboratory scale studies. Prior to the test, the natural peat soil was analyzed via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis, Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) analysis and carbon-hydrogen-nitrogen-sulphur (CHNS) element analysis. After going through laboratory tests, the peat soil residues were assessed through SEM-EDX analysis to determine the trapped Fe content. The natural peat soil does not contain any Fe substance. However, the analyzed peat soil residues showed that, approximately one to four percent of the Fe were found in the peat soil residues. The use of the peat soil for the AMD treatment in SAPS method is applicable and can be used as alternative organic substrate for treatment media.
A Successive Alkalinity Producing System (SAPS) employing an organic substrate of peat soil and limestone aggregate was investigated for the restoration of synthetic Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). The composition, carbon content, and particle size distribution of the peat soil and limestone were determined by characterisation. Iron sulphate (FeSO4) and sulfuric acid were used to create synthetic AMD (H2SO4). The synthetic AMD was acidic (pH4.0) and had a concentration of iron (Fe) of 100 ppm. A laboratory scale physical model of a tailing pond was created. The synthetic AMD was introduced and filtered through the media. Following that, samples of effluent water were collected and examined to ascertain the pH level. Furthermore, the Fe concentration was determined using a UV-Vis test with a retention duration ranging from 6 to 48 hours. After only 6 hours of retention time, the new technology successfully reduced more than 85% iron concentration and neutralised pH. These findings demonstrated that a combination of peat soil and limestone of adequate thickness might potentially be recommended as an additional treatment media for treating AMD with SAPS.
A Successive Alkalinity Producing System (SAPS) was evaluated for the remediation of synthetic Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) by using an organic substrate of peat soil and limestone aggregate. The characterization of the AMD was conducted by the testing the AMD effluent originated from active mining site at Pengkalan Hulu, Perak, Malaysia. The characterization of the peat soil and limestone revealed stipulated composition, carbon content in the peat soil and particle size distribution of the limestone. Synthetic AMD was prepared incorporating iron sulphate (FeSO4) and sulphuric acid (H2SO4). The synthetic AMD was acidic (pH < 4.0) and with 50, 75 and 100 ppm Iron (Fe) concentration. A laboratory scale physical model to simulate a tailing pond was developed. The synthetic AMD was introduced and passed through the filtration media. Subsequently, water samples were collected and analyzed to determine pH level. Additionally, the Fe concentration was analyzed using UV-Vis test at 6 to maximum 48 hours’ retention time. The residues of the peat soil and limestone from the physical model were further analyzed using SEM-EDX microscopic to determine the remaining iron content absorb or precipitate onto the peat soil and limestone. The analysis revealed that the innovative methodology has successfully reduced more than 85 % iron content and neutralized the pH only after 6 hours of retention time. These results proved the combination of peat soil and limestone potentially can be proposed as the alternate solution for treating the AMD effluent from the mining site.
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