Application of volume retarded osmosis – Low pressure membrane hybrid process for recovery of heavy metals in acid mine drainage

Abstract

Recovery of heavy metals in acid mine drainage (AMD) such as Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb was evaluated using volume retarded osmosis and low-pressure membrane (VRO-LPM) process. In VRO-LPM process, the draw solution (DS) is regenerated by the naturally generated pressure, giving its economic value. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt (EDTA-4Na) and Poly (sodium-4-styrenesulfonate, PSS-Na) were used and compared to determine more suitable DS in heavy metal recovery from the AMD. Forward osmosis (FO) and nanofiltration (NF) membrane were employed in VRO-LPM process, due to the low EDTA-4Na rejection (about 50%) in ultrafiltration (UF) process. For the FO part in the VRO-LPM process, PSS-Na had flux values of 0.12, 0.11 and 0.05 L m−2 h−1 and at osmotic pressure of 8.9, 12 and 13 bar, respectively. Unlike the flux values, the RSF of PSS remained at 0.01 mmol h−1 at all osmotic pressures. For EDTA-4Na, the flux values were 0.10, 0.06 and 0.04 L m−2 h−1, which are relatively higher than those of PSS-Na; and the RSF values were 0.1, 1.2, 2.2 mmol h−1, which are higher compared to those of PSS-Na. Unlike PSS-Na, RSF for EDTA-4Na increased as the concentration increases. In the NF part of the VRO-LPM process, PSS-Na had higher water flux and rejection than EDTA-4Na, and the flux and rejection both decreased with concentration for both PSS-Na and EDTA-4Na. The overall rejection in VRO-LPM process was over 95% for all heavy metal ions. Therefore, VRO-LPM process has proven its ability to be used in AMD treatment for heavy metal removal.