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Removal of Metals and Acidity from Acid Mine Drainage Using Liquid and Dried Digested Sewage Sludge and Cattle Slurry

Verwendung von flüssigen und getrockneten Faul-/Klärschlamm und Rindergülle zur Verminderung der Acidität und des Metallgehalts in sauern Grubenabwasser (AMD)

Remoción de metales y de acidez de un drenaje ácido de minas usando lodos digeridos líquidos y secos y lodos de actividades ganaderas

液体污泥、干燥污泥及粪浆去除酸性矿井水中金属离子和酸度

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Abstract

The metal removal and neutralization capacities of digested sewage sludges from municipal wastewater treatment plants, cattle slurry (liquid manure), and Biofert granules (dried granular anaerobic sludge) were compared under batch conditions using synthetic AMD (pH 2.8) containing high concentrations of Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn (100, 15, 270, 15, 2, and 30 mg/L, respectively). The effects of contact time and solids concentration were examined. Metal removal was variable for all materials. Contact time had a significant effect, with total removal often increasing over the experimental time interval (i.e. 30 min to 24 h). Removal efficiency (%) was generally highest for Cu, Pb, and Al, while Mn and Zn were the least removed. Cattle slurry was the best material for metal removal, with the following maximum removals at a solids concentration of 12.9 g/L: Cu >98 %, Al >98 %, Fe >60 %, Mn >18 %, Pb >96 %, and Zn >60 %. Metal removal using digested sewage sludge reached 88 % for Al, 98 % for Cu, 94 % for Pb, and 30 % for Zn. Neutralization was complete within 30 min after AMD was mixed with digested sludges or cattle slurry, with the pH reaching a maximum of 5.5 with the slurry. In contrast, neutralization by the Biofert granules only reached equilibrium after 300 min, and pH remained <4.0 except at high solids concentrations. It appears that recycled waste-derived organic materials can neutralize AMD and remove dissolved metals by adsorption and precipitation, creating a more treatable waste stream or one that could be discharged directly to surface water. Potential methods of safe disposal of metal-enriched organic materials are discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Die Metallfällungs- und Neutralisationskapazität von getrockneten Faul-/Klärschlämmen aus kommunalen Kläranlagen, Rindergülle sowie organischen Düngergranulat (Biofert) wird in Batchexperimenten unter Verwendung von synthetischen AMD mit hohen Metallkonzentrationen (Al: 100 mg/l, Cu: 15 mg/l, Fe: 270 mg/l, Mn: 15, Pb: 2 mg/l, Zn: 30 mg/L) verglichen. Bei der Untersuchung der Aufenthaltszeit sowie der jeweilige Gesamtkonzentration zeigt sich, dass die Fällungseigenschaften je nach Metall variabel sind. Mit steigenden Kontaktzeiten (30 min bis 24 h) nimmt der Metallentzug aus der Lösung in der Regel zu. Die höchsten Entzugsraten wurden bei Cu, Pb und Al registriert, während Mn und Zn zu geringeren Teilen aus der Lösung entfernt wurden. Rindergülle zeigte die wirksamsten Entzugseigenschaften für die betrachteten Metalle. Bei 12,9 g/l Gesamtkonzentration wurden maximale Entzungsraten (Cu >98 %, Al >98 %, Fe >60 %, Mn >18 %, Pb >96 %, Zn >60 %) erreicht. Bei getrockneten Faul-/Klärschlamm wurden der Lösung 88 % Al, 98 % Cu, 94 % Pb und 30 % Zn entzogen. Bereits 30 min nach der Mischung mit Schlamm bzw. Rindergülle hatte die Lösung eher neutrale Eigenschaften. In Gülle betrug der pH-Wert maximal 5,5. Im Gegensatz dazu wurde ein pH-Wert Erhöhung bei organischen Düngergranulat (Biofert) erst nach 300 min festgestellt, wobei der pH-Wert weiterhin <4 betrug und die Metallkonzentration hoch blieb. Insgesamt ist aufgearbeitetes organisches Material in der Lage, AMD zu neutralisieren und gelöste Metalle zu adsorbieren und zu fällen. Hierdurch können die Eigenschaften der Grubenwässer ggf. soweit verbessert werden, dass sie direkt in Vorfluter abgegeben werden können. Zusätzlich werden Möglichkeiten diskutiert, das durch Metalle angereicherte organische Material sicher zu entsorgen.

Resumen

Las capacidades de neutralización y de remoción de metales de lodos digeridos en plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales municipales (WWTPs), lodos de actividades ganaderas (estiércol líquido) y gránulos Biofert (lodo anaeróbico seco en gránulos) fueron comparados, en condiciones batch, usando AMD sintético (pH 2,8) conteniendo altas concentraciones de Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb y Zn (100, 15, 270, 15, 2 y 30 mg/L, respectivamente). Se analizaron los efectos del tiempo de contacto y de la concentración de sólidos. La remoción de metales fue variable para todos los materiales. El tiempo de contacto tuvo un efecto significativo, con una remoción total que se incrementaba con el intervalo de tiempo experimental (por ejemplo, 30 minutos a 24 h). La eficiencia de la remoción (%) fue generalmente máxima para Cu, Pb y Al, mientras que Mn y Zn fueron los menos removidos. El lodo de actividades ganaderas fue el mejor material para la remoción de metales, con las siguientes remociones máximas a 12,9 g/L de concentración de sólidos: Cu >98 %, Al >98 %, Fe >60 %, Mn >18 %, Pb >96 % y Zn >60 %. La remoción de metales usando lodos digeridos alcanzó el 88 % para Al, 98 % para Cu, 94 % para Pb y 30 % para Zn. La neutralización fue complete dentro de los 30 min después de que el AMD se mezcló con lodos digeridos o lodos de actividades ganaderas, con el pH alcanzando un máximo de 5,5 con el lodo líquido. En contraste, la neutralización por los gránulos Biofert sólo alcanzó el equilibrio después de 300 min y el pH se mantuvo por debajo de 4,0 excepto a altas concentraciones de sólidos. Se ha mostrado que los materiales orgánicos derivados del reciclado de residuos puede neutralizar AMD y remover los metales disueltos por adsorción y precipitación, creando un flujo de residuos más tratable o uno que pudiera ser descargado directamente a aguas superficiales. Se discuten los potenciales metales de disposición segura de materiales orgánicos enriquecidos con metales.

抽象

用pH值为2.8的人工合成酸性矿井废水(Al、Cu、Fe、Mn、Pb和Zn离子浓度分别为100、 15、270、15、2和30 mg/L) 进行批次试验,对比、评价城市污水处理厂(MWTP)的溶解污泥、液体牲畜粪肥和干燥粒状厌氧污泥三类有机材料的酸中和与重金属离子去除能力。接触时间和固体浓度明显影响三类有机材料的去除效果。金属离子去除率随三类试验材料不同而变化。离子去除率受接触时间影响显著,随试验时间间隔增长(30分钟至24小时)而增大。Cu、Pb和Al的去除率最高,而Mn和Zn的去除率最低。液体牲畜粪肥去除金属离子效果最好;当其固体浓度为12.9 g/L时,各金属离子的去除率分别为Cu >98 %、Al >98 %、Fe >60 %、Mn >18 %、Pb >96 %和Zn >60 %。MWTP溶解污泥去除Al、Cu、Pb和Zn的效率分别为88 %、98 %、94 %和30 %。AMD与溶解污泥或牲畜粪肥混合后半小时,AMD溶液的中和过程即可完成,并使pH值增致5.5。然而,干燥粒状厌氧污泥需要300分钟才能使AMD达到中和平衡;而且,如果不提高固体浓度,AMD溶液pH值将始终低于4。试验研究说明,多种废物中的有机材料能够有效中和AMD酸性、去除AMD金属离子(吸附作用和沉淀作用),使AMD更易于处理甚至能够直接排入地表水体。文章进一步讨论了含金属有机材料的AMD安全处理方法。

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Acknowledgments

T. Hughes gratefully acknowledges the support provided by the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology (IRCSET) Embark Initiative and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Grant No 08/rfp/enm993. In addition, T. Hughes extends sincere appreciation to the personnel at Leixlip, Navan, and Ringsend WWTPs, and to C. Mac an Bhaird. Finally, the authors thank the three reviewers for their helpful recommendations.

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  1. Water Technology Research Group, School of Natural Sciences, Centre for the Environment, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Theresa A. Hughes, N. F. Gray & Olga Sánchez Guillamón

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  1. Theresa A. Hughes
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Correspondence to Theresa A. Hughes.

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Hughes, T.A., Gray, N.F. & Sánchez Guillamón, O. Removal of Metals and Acidity from Acid Mine Drainage Using Liquid and Dried Digested Sewage Sludge and Cattle Slurry. Mine Water Environ 32, 108–120 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-013-0217-9

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