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Comparison of Organic Materials for the Passive Treatment of Synthetic Neutral Mine Drainage Contaminated by Nickel: Adsorption and Desorption Kinetics and Isotherms

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Abstract

Sorption is an effective process for the remediation of mine water with low metal concentrations. To identify promising low-cost organic sorbents for nickel (Ni), adsorption and retention properties of peat, compost, brown algae, sawdust, and wood ash were compared. Batch adsorption and desorption experiments were conducted at pH 7 in 0.05 M NaNO3 solutions to simulate the ionic strength and pH of a contaminated neutral drainage. Results of adsorption kinetic experiments were best represented by the Elovich model and the fastest rates were obtained with peat (796,075 mg g−1 min−1) and compost (791 mg g−1 min−1). Results of equilibration adsorption experiments were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and the highest adsorption capacities were observed for peat (around 22 mg g−1) and compost (around 9 mg g−1). Desorption experiments revealed that peat and compost adsorbed more Ni and also released a lower percentage of the adsorbed metal upon exposure to Ni-free solutions.

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Funding

This study was funded by the NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada), grant no. 469489-14, and the industrial partners of the RIME UQAT Polytechnique Montreal, including Agnico Eagle, Mine Canadian Malartic, Iamgold, Raglan Mine Glencore, and Rio Tinto. D.R., also wishes to acknowledge support from the “Fonds de recherche Nature et technologies” (FQRNT) graduate scholarship program and from the “Fondation et alumni de Polytechnique Montréal” (Bourse Banque de Montréal).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute on Mines and Environment (RIME), Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering Department, Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, QC, H3C 3A7, Canada

    Dominique Richard & Gérald J. Zagury

  2. GEOTOP and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A7, Canada

    Alfonso Mucci

  3. RIME, University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue (UQAT), 445 Boul. de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada

    Carmen M. Neculita

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  1. Dominique Richard
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  2. Alfonso Mucci
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  3. Carmen M. Neculita
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  4. Gérald J. Zagury
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Correspondence to Gérald J. Zagury.

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Richard, D., Mucci, A., Neculita, C.M. et al. Comparison of Organic Materials for the Passive Treatment of Synthetic Neutral Mine Drainage Contaminated by Nickel: Adsorption and Desorption Kinetics and Isotherms. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 556 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04917-z

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