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Acid drainage neutralization and trace metals removal by a two-step system with carbonated rocks, Estado de Mexico, Mexico

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Abstract

The following study is carried out in a mine of Mexico where acid drainage is produced. At the site, two types of rock which contain calcite are present, graphitic phyllite and limestone, and their use is proposed in a treatment system. Acid drainage contains dissolved Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn, as well as high concentration of sulphates. By means of shaking tests conducted using flasks, the efficiency of the proposed two-step treatment was evaluated, first using phyllite to remove Fe and Al and then limestone to remove Cu, Cd, Mn and Zn. During the tests performed using phyllite, a pH = 6.00–6.16 was reached, and 100% of Al, Fe and Cu was removed. During the second step, using limestone, a pH = 7.77–8.39 was achieved and 100% of Cd, 95–99% of Zn and 74–89% of Mn were removed. Sediment characterization indicates that Al and Fe precipitate as hydroxysulphates, Cu removal mainly occurs by sorption in iron hydroxysulphates, while Cd, Mn and Zn are mostly removed by adsorption in clay phases formed by alteration of phyllosilicates contained in rock.

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Acknowledgements

This research project was carried out with the aid of the Support Program for Research Projects and Technological Innovation (PAPIIT IN 114113) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). The authors wish to thank Minera Tizapa, S.A. de C.V. for their interest and facilities provided, to Fabiola Vega and Maria Teresa Pi Puig from the Institute of Geology of UNAM and Guadalupe Contreras Ordaz from the Faculty of Engineering of UNAM, for their laboratory assistance. We also thank the reviewers for their suggestions and comments that greatly enriched the final version of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), 04510, Mexico City, Mexico

    José E. Santos Jallath, Angélica Cervantes Macedo & Juan Goslinga Arenas

  2. Institute of Geology, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), 04510, Mexico City, Mexico

    Francisco Martín Romero

  3. Institute of Engineering, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), 04510, Mexico City, Mexico

    Rosario Iturbe Argüelles

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  1. José E. Santos Jallath
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  2. Francisco Martín Romero
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  3. Rosario Iturbe Argüelles
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  4. Angélica Cervantes Macedo
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  5. Juan Goslinga Arenas
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Correspondence to José E. Santos Jallath.

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Santos Jallath, J.E., Romero, F.M., Iturbe Argüelles, R. et al. Acid drainage neutralization and trace metals removal by a two-step system with carbonated rocks, Estado de Mexico, Mexico. Environ Earth Sci 77, 86 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7248-2

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