Selection of the Optimum Active Treatment Technology for Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Using Analytic Hierarchy Process

The increasing number of proposed technologies for the active treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) raises a problem for decision-makers during the selection process. Selecting the optimum treatment technology requires extensive analysis to determine the best possible treatment based on multiple and...

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Main Authors: Cyrielle T. Lorio, Aileen H. Orbecido, Michael Angelo B. Promentilla, Carlito B. Tabelin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIDIC Servizi S.r.l. 2022-09-01
Series:Chemical Engineering Transactions
Online Access:https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/12712
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author Cyrielle T. Lorio
Aileen H. Orbecido
Michael Angelo B. Promentilla
Carlito B. Tabelin
author_facet Cyrielle T. Lorio
Aileen H. Orbecido
Michael Angelo B. Promentilla
Carlito B. Tabelin
author_sort Cyrielle T. Lorio
collection DOAJ
description The increasing number of proposed technologies for the active treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) raises a problem for decision-makers during the selection process. Selecting the optimum treatment technology requires extensive analysis to determine the best possible treatment based on multiple and often conflicting criteria. The introduction of multi-decision criteria analysis (MCDA) provides a systematic approach to problem-solving based on both quantitative and qualitative data. In this study, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) as an MCDA tool was used to select the optimum treatment option for AMD in a local copper mining site in the Philippines. Three treatment technologies were found to be the most applicable – a combination of Conventional Lime Neutralization and Sulfidogenic Bioreactor (CLN + SB), High-Density Sludge (HDS) Process, and a combination of Two-Step Neutralization Ferrite Formation and Sulfidogenic Bioreactor (TSNFF + SB). Three criteria – technical, economic, and environmental – and eight sub-criteria were used to evaluate and analyze the three alternatives systematically. The overall ranking of the alternatives was TSNFF + SB > HDS > CLN + SB. However, sensitivity analysis showed that HDS was the most stable treatment technology when equal weights were given for each criterion. Implications from this study could provide a more reliable information for possible technology adoption to sustainably address problems on AMD which is one of the leading global environmental problems today.
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spelling doaj.art-82a2eddbe1764b47a54603b65ab368e32022-12-22T04:04:57ZengAIDIC Servizi S.r.l.Chemical Engineering Transactions2283-92162022-09-019410.3303/CET2294155Selection of the Optimum Active Treatment Technology for Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Using Analytic Hierarchy ProcessCyrielle T. LorioAileen H. OrbecidoMichael Angelo B. PromentillaCarlito B. TabelinThe increasing number of proposed technologies for the active treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) raises a problem for decision-makers during the selection process. Selecting the optimum treatment technology requires extensive analysis to determine the best possible treatment based on multiple and often conflicting criteria. The introduction of multi-decision criteria analysis (MCDA) provides a systematic approach to problem-solving based on both quantitative and qualitative data. In this study, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) as an MCDA tool was used to select the optimum treatment option for AMD in a local copper mining site in the Philippines. Three treatment technologies were found to be the most applicable – a combination of Conventional Lime Neutralization and Sulfidogenic Bioreactor (CLN + SB), High-Density Sludge (HDS) Process, and a combination of Two-Step Neutralization Ferrite Formation and Sulfidogenic Bioreactor (TSNFF + SB). Three criteria – technical, economic, and environmental – and eight sub-criteria were used to evaluate and analyze the three alternatives systematically. The overall ranking of the alternatives was TSNFF + SB > HDS > CLN + SB. However, sensitivity analysis showed that HDS was the most stable treatment technology when equal weights were given for each criterion. Implications from this study could provide a more reliable information for possible technology adoption to sustainably address problems on AMD which is one of the leading global environmental problems today.https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/12712
spellingShingle Cyrielle T. Lorio
Aileen H. Orbecido
Michael Angelo B. Promentilla
Carlito B. Tabelin
Selection of the Optimum Active Treatment Technology for Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Using Analytic Hierarchy Process
Chemical Engineering Transactions
title Selection of the Optimum Active Treatment Technology for Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Using Analytic Hierarchy Process
title_full Selection of the Optimum Active Treatment Technology for Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Using Analytic Hierarchy Process
title_fullStr Selection of the Optimum Active Treatment Technology for Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Using Analytic Hierarchy Process
title_full_unstemmed Selection of the Optimum Active Treatment Technology for Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Using Analytic Hierarchy Process
title_short Selection of the Optimum Active Treatment Technology for Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Using Analytic Hierarchy Process
title_sort selection of the optimum active treatment technology for acid mine drainage amd using analytic hierarchy process
url https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/12712
work_keys_str_mv AT cyrielletlorio selectionoftheoptimumactivetreatmenttechnologyforacidminedrainageamdusinganalytichierarchyprocess
AT aileenhorbecido selectionoftheoptimumactivetreatmenttechnologyforacidminedrainageamdusinganalytichierarchyprocess
AT michaelangelobpromentilla selectionoftheoptimumactivetreatmenttechnologyforacidminedrainageamdusinganalytichierarchyprocess
AT carlitobtabelin selectionoftheoptimumactivetreatmenttechnologyforacidminedrainageamdusinganalytichierarchyprocess