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Removal of selenium from gold heap leachate by activated alumina adsorption

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Abstract

Leachates from gold heap-leaching mines may contain selenium concentrations as high as 2 mg/L. Previous studies report satisfactory selenium adsorption by activated alumina from relatively “clean” drinking waters. However, the findings of these studies cannot be directly applied to the treatment of mine leachate where other ions compete for the alumina adsorption sites. This study evaluated the adsorption of selenium from a mine leachate to develop design parameters for a full-scale activated alumina process.

The study revealed that 68% of the selenium in the leachate could be removed by alumina at pH levels greater than 5.0. At pH levels less than 4, silica was poorly adsorbed by alumina, and selenium adsorption was improved. Silica adversely affected the selenium adsorption capacity.

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References

  • Clifford, D.A., 1989, “Ion exchange and inorganic adsorption,” in Water Quality and Treatment, Chapter 9, American Water Works Association, Fourth Ed., Mc Graw Hill.

  • Sorg, T.J., and Logsden, G.S., 1978, “Treatment technologies to meet the interim primary drinking water regulations for inorganics: Part 2,” Jour. Amer. Water Works Assoc., pp. 379–396.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    J. R. Batista (research assistant) & J. C. Young (professor of environmental engineering)

Authors
  1. J. R. Batista
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  2. J. C. Young
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Additional information

SME preprint 94-5, SME Annual Meeting, Feb. 14–17, 1994, Albuquerque, NM.

M&MP paper 95-604. Discussion of this peer-reviewed and approved paper is invited and must be submitted to SME prior to Aug. 31, 1997

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Batista, J.R., Young, J.C. Removal of selenium from gold heap leachate by activated alumina adsorption. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 14, 29–36 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402756

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402756

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