Author(s)

IULIANA LAURA CALUGARU, THOMAS GENTY & CARMEN MIHAELA NECULITA

Abstract

The treatment of manganese [Mn] in acid mine drainage (AMD) and neutral mine drainage (NMD) is prone to variation in performance, which depends on several factors, including pH, Mn and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations, catalysis by Mn-/iron [Fe]-solids, presence of ligands, and bacteria. Not- withstanding the recent technological and scientific advancements, Mn removal is notoriously difficult and still challenging because of its complex chemistry and high solubility. Precipitation of Mn(II), in AMD and NMD, occurs in the form of oxides, with prior oxidation to Mn(III) and Mn(IV), or as carbonates and sulphides. However, most treatment systems have limited efficiency in simultaneously treating Mn and other metals in AMD/NMD, necessitating secondary treatment for Mn removal. Modification of natural or residual materials was found efficient for the treatment of NMD. In this context, this study evaluated the performance of half-charred dolomite (1 h at 750°C) in batch testing (solid: liquid ratio of 3 g:400 mL) for Mn treatment in AMD and NMD. Results showed that modified dolomite treated more than 98% Mn in synthetic NMD (pH 6.1–6.3, up to 1 g/L Mn), at final pH of 9.7–10.6. Similar efficiency (98%) in Mn removal was also found for synthetic AMD (pH 3.6, up to 100 mg/L Mn and 1 g/L Fe, Mn:Fe molar ratio 1:10), while Fe was completely treated, at final pH of 9.7–9.8. In addition, Mn removal was 99.5% within the first 2 h (when pH increased to 8.0), while after 4 h, the efficiency was up to 99.9% (at final pH of 9.6). DO also decreased (from 8 to 2.2 mg/L), at initial Mn concentrations of 1 g/L, and dropped (from 8 to 0.7 mg/L), when Fe concentrations increased to 1 g/L (Mn:Fe molar ratio 1:10). Based on these findings, half-charred dolomite seems a promising option for the treatment of Mn in both AMD and NMD.

Keywords

acid mine drainage, Mn treatment, modified dolomite, neutral mine drainage.