The amelioration of acid mine drainage by an in situ electrochemical method; part 2: employing aluminium and zinc as sacrificial anodes

Abstract

Abstract This work represents part of an ongoing investigation of electrochemical approaches to ameliorate acid mine drainage (AMD) problems occurring at the Sherman Iron Ore Mine of Temagami, Ontario, Canada. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted using a block of massive sulphide-graphite rock from the mine site as the cathode, Al and Zn as the sacrificial anodes and acidic leachate collected from the mine site as the electrolyte. The Al anode cell failed to raise the pH of the leachate above 4.5. Excellent results, however, were obtained using a Zn anode. The electrochemical cell raised and maintained the pH of the leachate at ∼6.7 which was accompanied by significant decreases in Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, and Ni to levels well within environmentally acceptable limits.