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Cu Removal from Acid Mine Drainage by Modified Pyrite: Batch and Column Experiments

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Abstract

Thermally modified pyrite (MPy) has submicron-sized particles and a porous polycrystalline structure. The ability of MPy to remove copper from simulated and actual acid mine drainage (AMD) was studied. Batch experiments showed good Cu2+ removal in the pH range of 4–6 in simulated AMD. Copper removal from actual AMD was investigated in an experiment in which column A was filled with limestone as the neutralizer and column B was filled with MPy. The MPy column had a removal capacity of 21.93 mg of Cu per g of MPy; the Cu content was as high as 9.23 % in the spent MPy particles. This indicates that MPy has the potential to be a novel cost-effective material for Cu removal and recovery from AMD.

Graphical Abstract

热力学改性黄铁矿去除酸性废水中铜:批次和柱试验

热力学改性的黄铁矿(MPy)具有亚微米级颗粒和多晶孔隙结构。利用人工合成酸性废水和实际酸性废水研究了MPy的铜去除能力。批次试验表明,人工合成酸性废水的pH值为4-6时, MPy的Cu2+去除效果较好。利用两个试验柱研究了实际酸性废水的铜去除效果,柱体A充填石灰石中和剂,柱体B充填MPy。MPy柱体的铜去除能力为每克MPy去除21.93毫克铜, 试验后的MPy颗粒铜含量高达9.23%。研究表明,MPy是一种能够有效去除和回收酸性废水中铜的新型材料。

Zusammenfassung

Thermisch modifizierter Pyrit (MPy) weist Partikelgrößen im Submikronbereich auf und besitzt eine poröse, polykristalline Struktur. Die Wirksamkeit von MPy, Kupfer aus synthetischem und realem Sauerwasser zu entfernen, wurde untersucht. Batchexperimente zeigten im synthetischen Sauerwasser eine gute Cu2+-Entfernung im pH-Bereich von 4-6. In einem Experiment mit realem Sauerwasser, bei dem die Kolonne A mit Kalkstein als Neutralisationsagent und die Kolonne B mit MPy gefüllt waren, wurde die Kupferentfernung untersucht. Die MPy Säule wies eine Entfernungskapazität von 21,93 mg Cu pro g MPy auf, und der Cu-Gehalt in den verbrauchten MPy-Partikeln betrug 9,23%. Dies ist ein Hinweis darauf, dass MPy ein neues potentielles und kostengünstiges Material für die Cu-Entfernung und -Rückgewinnung aus Sauerwasser zu sein scheint.

Resumen

La pirita modificada térmicamente (MPy) tiene partículas de tamaño sub-microscópico y una estructura policristalina porosa. Se estudió la capacidad de MPy para remover Cu desde drenaje ácido de mina (AMD) artificial y real. Los experimentos en batch mostraron una buena remoción de Cu2+ de AMD artificial, en el rango de 4-6. Se investigó la remoción de Cu desde AMD real en un experimento en el cuál la columna A se llenó con caliza como neutralizante y la columna B se llenó con MPy. La columna MPy tuvo una capacidad de remoción de 21,93 mg de Cu por g de MPy; el contenido de Cu fue 9,23% en las partículas agotadas de MPy. Esto sugiere que MPy tiene el potencial para ser un nuevo material económico y efectivo para la remoción y la recuperación de Cu desde AMD.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41130206, 41402029, and 41472047). Y. Yang is grateful for funding provided by the China Scholarship Council (No. 201306690001) and European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST Action Programs 1205 and 1302). The authors declare no competing financial interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Nanomineralogy and Environmental Material, School of Resources & Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Anhui, China

    Yan Yang, Tianhu Chen, Ping Li & Qiaoqin Xie

  2. Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Informatics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

    Yan Yang & Xinmin Zhan

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  1. Yan Yang
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  2. Tianhu Chen
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  3. Ping Li
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  4. Qiaoqin Xie
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Correspondence to Tianhu Chen.

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Yang, Y., Chen, T., Li, P. et al. Cu Removal from Acid Mine Drainage by Modified Pyrite: Batch and Column Experiments. Mine Water Environ 36, 371–378 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-016-0421-5

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