Recent Progress on Acid Mine Drainage Technological Trends in South Africa: Prevention, Treatment, and Resource Recovery

Abstract

South Africa is the home of major global mining operations, and the acid mine drainage (AMD) contribution has been attributed to abandoned mine sites and huge pyrite-bearing tailings from coal and gold mines. Determining the true economic impact and environmental liability of AMD remains difficult. Researchers have been looking into several treatment technologies over the years as a way to reduce its possible environmental impact. Different methods for active and passive remediation have been developed to treat AMD. The aim of this review was to describe the AMD-impacted environments and critically discuss the properties of AMD and current prediction and preventative methods and technologies available to treat AMD. Furthermore, this study critically analysed case studies in South Africa, gaps in AMD research, and the limitations and prospects offered by AMD. The study outlined future technological interventions aimed at a pattern shift in decreasing sludge volumes and operational costs while effectively improving the treatment of AMD. The various treatment technologies have beneficial results, but they also have related technical problems. To reduce the formation of AMD, it is recommended that more preventive methods be investigated. Moreover, there is a current need for integrated AMD treatment technologies that result in a well-rounded overall approach towards sustainability in AMD treatment. As a result, a sustainable AMD treatment strategy has been made possible due to water reuse and recovery valuable resources such sulphuric acid, rare earth elements, and metals. The cost of AMD treatment can be decreased with the use of recovered water and resources, which is essential for developing a sustainable AMD treatment process. More study is required in the future to improve the effectiveness of the various strategies used, with a focus on reducing the formation of secondary pollutants and recovery of valuable resources.

Importance of Changes in the Copper Production Process through Mining and Metallurgical Activities on the Surface Water Quality in the Bor Area, Serbia

“…Based on the fact that the concentrations of As, Ni, Cd, and Pb ions were expressed in the same measurement units, the results are presented by diagrams in Figure 11. Changes made by the Serbia Zijin Copper d.o.o Bor had a goal to stop the discharge of mining-influenced water (locations W1 and W2) and metallurgy wastewater (locations W3) into the Bor River (W4), reuse this water and reduce the impact on the human and natural environments around the mining area as well as at the other locations [38,39]. The metallurgical wastewater (W3) treatment in a newly built facility, pumped out and neutralized water from location W2, and redirection of the W1 flow into the active flotation tailing dump led to a drastic decrease in the concentrations of Cu, As, Ni and Pb ions in the Bor River (W4) (Table 3).…”