Iron Removal Efficiency in Synthetic Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Treatment Using Peat Soil

Abstract

AbstractAcid mine drainage (AMD) formation is due to the sulfide minerals reaction either chemically or biologically when exposed to atmospheric conditions. The AMD formation often occurred in the region involved with anthropogenic activities, including mining, agricultural plantation, urban development and logging. Treatment of AMD is a challenging part of most mining operations around the world. Selection of method treatment is crucial depending on the area’s geological, mineralogical, topography and AMD characteristic. There are two types of method treatment; active and passive treatment method. In this study, passive treatment method was adopted; which is successive alkalinity producing system (SAPS). The study aims to analyze effect of variable parameters on iron (Fe) concentration and propose optimum operating condition for AMD treatment. Peat soil and limestone aggregate was used as treatment media in treatment tank. Synthetic AMD was formulated using sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and iron sulfate (FeSO4) to represent actual AMD. Once the synthetic AMD was introduced, water samples were collected and analyzed using UV–Vis test after 6 to 48 h’ retention time. Based on the analysis, the proposed methodology has successfully reduced more than 85% iron content only after 6 h of retention time. The maximum Fe removal percentage recorded was 95%, using the higher peat soil depth configuration. The statistical analysis results show that the optimum operating condition for SAPS with high Fe removal is using high peat soil depth. Experiments with higher peat soil depth provide satisfactory results in treating the high initial Fe concentration regardless of the retention time for the AMD treatment.KeywordsPassive treatmentAMDSuccessive alkalinity producing system (SAPS)Peat soilHeavy metal