Abstract
Acid mine drainage induced by the mining industry causes environmental and economic issues. Acid mine drainage contains mainly metals such as Fe, Al, Cu, Ca, Mg, Mn and Zn. Preventing the formation of acid mine drainage has not been found feasible. As a consequence, remediation treatments have been developed during the last years to remove metals and obtain high-quality water, which may be reused. We review here several treatment options such as selective metal precipitation, adsorption, electrochemical processes and membrane processes. Adsorption is the most employed commercially since it can recover 99% of the metals. Membrane processes are promising according to lab-scale results, notably because high-quality water is obtained. Further research is necessary to implement combination of technologies, e.g., adsorption membrane, at larger scales, as well as to obtain more valuable products that can balance the overall economy for the mining industry.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aguiar AO, Andrade LH, Ricci BC et al (2016) Gold acid mine drainage treatment by membrane separation processes: an evaluation of the main operational conditions. Sep Purif Technol 170:360–369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2016.07.003
Ali SH, Giurco D, Arndt N et al (2017) Mineral supply for sustainable development requires resource governance. Nature 543:367–372. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature21359
Anawar HM (2015) Sustainable rehabilitation of mining waste and acid mine drainage using geochemistry, mine type, mineralogy, texture, ore extraction and climate knowledge. J Environ Manag 158:111–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.04.045
Andrade LH, Aguiar AO, Pires WL et al (2017) Nanofiltration and reverse osmosis applied to gold mining effluent treatment and reuse. Braz J Chem Eng 34:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1590/0104-6632.20170341s20150082
Argun ME, Dursun S (2008) A new approach to modification of natural adsorbent for heavy metal adsorption. Bioresour Technol 99:2516–2527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2007.04.037
Ayora C, Macías F, Torres E et al (2016) Recovery of rare earth elements and yttrium from passive-remediation systems of acid mine drainage. Environ Sci Technol 50:8255–8262. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b02084
Baena-moreno FM, Rodríguez-galán M, Vega F et al (2018) Carbon capture and utilization technologies: a literature review and recent advances. Energy Sour Part A Recover Util Environ Eff 00:1403–1433. https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2018.1548518
Baena-Moreno FM, Rodríguez-Galán M, Vega F et al (2019a) Biogas upgrading by cryogenic techniques. Environ Chem Lett. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-019-00872-2
Baena-Moreno FM, Rodríguez-Galán M, Vega F et al (2019b) Review: recent advances in biogas purifying technologies. Int J Green Energy 16:401–412. https://doi.org/10.1080/15435075.2019.1572610
Baena-Moreno FM, Rodríguez-Galán M, Vega F et al (2019c) Understanding the influence of the alkaline cation K+ or Na+ in the regeneration efficiency of a biogas upgrading unit. Int J Energy Res 43:1578–1585. https://doi.org/10.1002/er.4448
Baena-Moreno FM, Rodríguez-Galán M, Vega F et al (2019d) Synergizing carbon capture storage and utilization in a biogas upgrading lab-scale plant based on calcium chloride: influence of precipitation parameters. Sci Total Environ 670:59–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.204
Bejan D, Bunce NJ (2015) Acid mine drainage: electrochemical approaches to prevention and remediation of acidity and toxic metals. J Appl Electrochem 45:1239–1254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-015-0915-z
Buzzi DC, Viegas LS, Rodrigues MAS et al (2013) Water recovery from acid mine drainage by electrodialysis. Miner Eng 40:82–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2012.08.005
Chen T, Yan B, Lei C, Xiao X (2014) Pollution control and metal resource recovery for acid mine drainage. Hydrometallurgy 147:112–119. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2015.429
Cheng S, Dempsey BA, Logan BE (2007) Electricity generation from synthetic acid-mine drainage (AMD) water using fuel cell technologies. Environ Sci Technol 41:8149–8153. https://doi.org/10.1021/es0712221
Cheng S, Jang JH, Dempsey BA, Logan BE (2011) Efficient recovery of nano-sized iron oxide particles from synthetic acid-mine drainage (AMD) water using fuel cell technologies. Water Res 45:303–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2010.07.054
Cho YH, Lee HD, Park HB (2012) Integrated membrane processes for separation and purification of organic acid from a biomass fermentation process. Ind Eng Chem Res 51:10207–10219. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie301023r
Crini G, Lichtfouse E (2018) Advantages and disadvantages of techniques used for wastewater treatment. Environ Chem Lett 17:145–155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-018-0785-9
Edraki M, Golding SD, Baublys KA, Lawrence MG (2005) Hydrochemistry, mineralogy and sulfur isotope geochemistry of acid mine drainage at the Mt. Morgan mine environment, Queensland, Australia. Appl Geochem 20:789–805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2004.11.004
González A, Moreno N, Navia R, Querol X (2011) Development of a non-conventional sorbent from fly ash and its potential use in acid wastewater neutralization and heavy metal removal. Chem Eng J 166:896–905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2010.11.064
Gu S, Kang X, Wang L et al (2018) Clay mineral adsorbents for heavy metal removal from wastewater: a review. Environ Chem Lett 8:8–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-018-0813-9
Gunkel-Grillon P, Laporte-Magoni C, Lemestre M, Bazire N (2014) Toxic chromium release from nickel mining sediments in surface waters, New Caledonia. Environ Chem Lett 12:511–516. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-014-0475-1
Hu X, Yuan X, Dong L (2014) Coal fly ash and straw immobilize Cu, Cd and Zn from mining wasteland. Environ Chem Lett 12:289–295. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-013-0441-3
Iakovleva E, Mäkilä E, Salonen J et al (2014) Acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment: neutralization and toxic elements removal with unmodified and modified limestone. Ecol Eng 81:30–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.04.046
Jacobs JA (2014) Overview of resources from acid drainage and postmining opportunities. In: Acid mine drainage, rock drainage, and acid sulfate soils: causes, assessment, prediction, prevention, and remediation. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118749197.ch10
Jafaripour A, Rowson NA, Ghataora GS (2015) Utilisation of residue gas sludge (BOS sludge) for removal of heavy metals from acid mine drainage (AMD). Int J Miner Process 140:90–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.minpro.2015.10.002
Johnson DB, Hallberg KB (2005) Acid mine drainage remediation options: a review. Sci Total Environ 338:3–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.09.002
Kefeni KK, Msagati TAM, Mamba BB (2017) Acid mine drainage: prevention, treatment options, and resource recovery: a review. J Clean Prod 151:475–493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.03.082
Kesieme UK, Milne N, Cheng CY et al (2012) Novel application of membrane distillation for acid and water recovery from mining waste waters. International Mine Water Association Symposium 2012: Mine Water and the Environment, Bunbury, Australia, 29 September–4 October, 2012.
Kruse NA, Mackey AL, Bowman JR et al (2012) Alkalinity production as an indicator of failure in steel slag leach beds treating acid mine drainage. Environ Earth Sci 67:1389–1395. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1583-5
López J, Reig M, Gibert O, Cortina JL (2019) Recovery of sulphuric acid and added value metals (Zn, Cu and rare earths) from acidic mine waters using nanofiltration membranes. Sep Purif Technol 212:180–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2018.11.022
Luo H, Liu G, Zhang R et al (2014) Heavy metal recovery combined with H2 production from artificial acid mine drainage using the microbial electrolysis cell. J Hazard Mater 270:153–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.01.050
Luptakova A, Ubaldini S, MacIngova E et al (2012) Application of physical-chemical and biological-chemical methods for heavy metals removal from acid mine drainage. Process Biochem 11:1633–1639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2012.02.025
Macingova E, Luptakova A (2012) Recovery of metals from acid mine. Drainage 28:109–114. https://doi.org/10.3303/CET1228019
Mack B, Gutta B (2016) An analysis of steel slag and its use in acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment. J Am Soc Min Reclam 8:1–22. https://doi.org/10.21000/jasmr09010722
Martí-Calatayud MC, Buzzi DC, García-Gabaldón M et al (2014) Sulfuric acid recovery from acid mine drainage by means of electrodialysis. Desalination 343:120–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2013.11.031
Masindi V, Gitari MW, Tutu H, DeBeer M (2017) Synthesis of cryptocrystalline magnesite–bentonite clay composite and its application for neutralization and attenuation of inorganic contaminants in acidic and metalliferous mine drainage. J Water Process Eng 15:2–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2015.11.007
Masindi V, Chatzisymeon E, Kortidis I, Foteinis S (2018) Assessing the sustainability of acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment in South Africa. Sci Total Environ 635:793–802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.108
Meschke K, Herdegen V, Aubel T et al (2015) Treatment of opencast lignite mining induced acid mine drainage (AMD) using a rotating microfiltration system. J Environ Chem Eng 3:2848–2856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2015.10.013
Motsi T, Rowson NA, Simmons MJH (2009) Adsorption of heavy metals from acid mine drainage by natural zeolite. Int J Miner Process 92:42–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.minpro.2009.02.005
Mudhoo A, Garg VK, Wang S (2012) Removal of heavy metals by biosorption. Environ Chem Lett 8:199–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2003.10.032
Nagajyoti PC, Lee KD, Sreekanth TVM (2010) Heavy metals, occurrence and toxicity for plants: a review. Environ Chem Lett 8:199–216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-010-0297-8
Naidu G, Ryu S, Thiruvenkatachari R et al (2019) A critical review on remediation, reuse, and resource recovery from acid mine drainage. Environ Pollut 247:1110–1124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.01.085
Name T, Sheridan C (2014) Remediation of acid mine drainage using metallurgical slags. Miner Eng 64:15–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2014.03.024
Nasir S, Ibrahim E, Arief AT (2016) Design and experimental testing of small-scale acid mine drainage treatment plant. J Mater Environ Sci 8:2912–2918
Nfissi S, Alikouss S, Zerhouni Y et al (2017) Control of acid mine drainage from an abandoned mine in Morocco by using cement kiln dust and fly ash as amendments. J Mater Environ Sci 8:4457–4466. https://doi.org/10.26872/jmes.2017.8.12.471
Nieto JM, Sarmiento AM, Canovas CR et al (2013) Acid mine drainage in the Iberian Pyrite Belt: 1. Hydrochemical characteristics and pollutant load of the Tinto and Odiel rivers. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20:7509–7519. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1634-9
Nleya Y, Simate GS, Ndlovu S (2016) Sustainability assessment of the recovery and utilisation of acid from acid mine drainage. J Clean Prod 113:17–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.11.005
Park SM, Shin SY, Yang JS et al (2015) Selective recovery of dissolved metals from mine drainage using electrochemical reactions. Electrochim Acta 181:248–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2015.03.085
Park I, Tabelin CB, Jeon S et al (2019) A review of recent strategies for acid mine drainage prevention and mine tailings recycling. Chemosphere 219:588–606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.11.053
Ragnvaldsson D, Bergknut M, Lewis J et al (2014) A novel method for reducing acid mine drainage using green liquor dregs. Environ Chem Lett 12:443–447. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-014-0469-z
Ríos CA, Williams CD, Roberts CL (2008) Removal of heavy metals from acid mine drainage (AMD) using coal fly ash, natural clinker and synthetic zeolites. J Hazard Mater 156:23–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.11.123
Rodríguez-Galán M, Alonso-Fariñas B, Baena-Moreno FM et al (2019) Synthetic slag production method based on a solid waste mix vitrification for the manufacturing of slag-cement. Materials 12:196–208. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12020208
Ryan MJ, Kney AD, Carley TL (2017) A study of selective precipitation techniques used to recover refined iron oxide pigments for the production of paint from a synthetic acid mine drainage solution. Appl Geochem 79:27–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2017.01.019
Ryu S, Naidu G, Hasan Johir MA et al (2019) Acid mine drainage treatment by integrated submerged membrane distillation–sorption system. Chemosphere 218:955–965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.11.153
Sampaio RMM, Timmers RA, Xu Y et al (2009) Selective precipitation of Cu from Zn in a pS controlled continuously stirred tank reactor. J Hazard Mater 165:256–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.09.117
Seo EY, Cheong YW, Yim GJ et al (2017) Recovery of Fe, Al and Mn in acid coal mine drainage by sequential selective precipitation with control of pH. CATENA 148:11–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2016.07.022
Sheoran AS, Sheoran V (2006) Heavy metal removal mechanism of acid mine drainage in wetlands: a critical review. Miner Eng 19:105–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2005.08.006
Silva AM, Lima RMF, Leão VA (2012) Mine water treatment with limestone for sulfate removal. J Hazard Mater 30:221–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.03.066
Simate GS, Ndlovu S (2014) Acid mine drainage: challenges and opportunities. J Environ Chem Eng 2:1785–1803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2014.07.021
Sivakumar M, Ramezanianpour M, O’Halloran G (2013) Mine water treatment using a vacuum membrane distillation system. APCBEE Proc 5:157–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcbee.2013.05.028
Skousen J, Zipper CE, Rose A et al (2017) Review of passive systems for acid mine drainage treatment. Mine Water Environ 36:133–153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-016-0417-1
Sun M, Ru XR, Zhai LF (2015a) In-situ fabrication of supported iron oxides from synthetic acid mine drainage: high catalytic activities and good stabilities towards electro-fenton reaction. Appl Catal B Environ 165:103–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2014.09.077
Sun M, Wu NN, Zhai LF, Ru XR (2015b) Manipulate an air-cathode fuel cell toward recovering highly active heterogeneous electro-fenton catalyst from the Fe(II) in acid mine drainage. Miner Eng 84:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2015.09.015
Trumm D, Watts M (2010) Results of small-scale passive system trials to treat acid mine drainage, West Coast Region, South Island, New Zealand. New Zeal J Geol Geop 53:227–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288306.2010.509041
Vital B, Bartacek J, Ortega-Bravo JC, Jeison D (2018) Treatment of acid mine drainage by forward osmosis: heavy metal rejection and reverse flux of draw solution constituents. Chem Eng J 332:85–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.09.034
Wadekar SS, Vidic RD (2018) Comparison of ceramic and polymeric nanofiltration membranes for treatment of abandoned coal mine drainage. Desalination 440:135–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2018.01.008
Warrender R, Pearce NJG, Perkins WT et al (2011) Field trials of low-cost reactive media for the passive treatment of circum-neutral metal mine drainage in Mid-Wales, UK. Mine Water Environ 30:82–89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-011-0150-8
Westholm LJ, Repo E, Sillanpää M (2014) Filter materials for metal removal from mine drainage—a review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21:9109–9128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2903-y
Yan B, Mai G, Chen T et al (2015) Pilot test of pollution control and metal resource recovery for acid mine drainage. Water Sci Technol 72:2308–2317. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2015.429
Zhang Z, Yan Y, Zhang L et al (2014) CFD investigation of CO2 capture by methyldiethanolamine and 2-(1-piperazinyl)-ethylamine in membranes: part B. Effect of membrane properties. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 19:311–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2014.05.023
Zhang Z, Chen F, Rezakazemi M et al (2018) Modeling of a CO2-piperazine-membrane absorption system. Chem Eng Res Des 131:375–384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2017.11.024
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by University of Seville through V PPIT-US.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rodríguez-Galán, M., Baena-Moreno, F.M., Vázquez, S. et al. Remediation of acid mine drainage. Environ Chem Lett 17, 1529–1538 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-019-00894-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-019-00894-w