Analysis of the Mechanism of Acid Mine Drainage Neutralization Using Fly Ash as an Alternative Material: A Case Study of the Extremely Acidic Lake Robule in Eastern Serbia
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a waste from mining sites, usually acidic, with high concentrations of sulfates and heavy metal ions. This study investigates the AMD neutralization process using fly ash (FA) as an alternative material. Samples of FA from coal-fired power plants in Serbia (“Nikola Tesla”...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/20/3244 |
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| author | Nela Petronijević Dragana Radovanović Marija Štulović Miroslav Sokić Gvozden Jovanović Željko Kamberović Srđan Stanković Srecko Stopic Antonije Onjia |
| author_facet | Nela Petronijević Dragana Radovanović Marija Štulović Miroslav Sokić Gvozden Jovanović Željko Kamberović Srđan Stanković Srecko Stopic Antonije Onjia |
| author_sort | Nela Petronijević |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a waste from mining sites, usually acidic, with high concentrations of sulfates and heavy metal ions. This study investigates the AMD neutralization process using fly ash (FA) as an alternative material. Samples of FA from coal-fired power plants in Serbia (“Nikola Tesla” (EF) and “Kostolac” (KOST)) were analyzed and used. The results were compared with the treatment efficiency of commercial neutralization agent (NaOH). The alkaline nature of FA was the basis for use in the treatment process of the extremely acid Lake Robule (pH 2.46), located in the mining areas of eastern Serbia. The optimal S/L ratio for the AMD neutralization process determined for EF was 25 wt.%, and for KOST it was 20 wt.%. The mechanism of the neutralization process was analyzed using the ANC test and PHREEQC program. The element concentrations and pH values in solutions indicated that FA samples could neutralize Lake Robule with more than 99% of Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, and more than 89% of Pb precipitated. Formation of insoluble (oxy)hydroxide forms (Fe<sup>3+</sup> and Al<sup>3+</sup> ions) creates favorable conditions for co-precipitation of other trace metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, and Cd) from AMD, which is further enhanced by cation adsorption on FA particles. FA proved to be a more effective neutralization agent than NaOH due to its adsorption effect, while among the FA samples, KOST was more effective due to the aging process through the carbonization reaction. Using FA as an alternative material is a promising and sustainable method for treating AMD, with economic and environmental benefits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:23:19Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:23:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-cebc7c38f82b4c04b71d5fe9cecd207f2023-11-24T03:12:11ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-10-011420324410.3390/w14203244Analysis of the Mechanism of Acid Mine Drainage Neutralization Using Fly Ash as an Alternative Material: A Case Study of the Extremely Acidic Lake Robule in Eastern SerbiaNela Petronijević0Dragana Radovanović1Marija Štulović2Miroslav Sokić3Gvozden Jovanović4Željko Kamberović5Srđan Stanković6Srecko Stopic7Antonije Onjia8Institute for Technology of Nuclear and other Mineral Raw Materials, Center for Metallurgical Technologies, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInnovation Centre of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy Ltd., 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInnovation Centre of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy Ltd., 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute for Technology of Nuclear and other Mineral Raw Materials, Center for Metallurgical Technologies, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute for Technology of Nuclear and other Mineral Raw Materials, Center for Metallurgical Technologies, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaFaculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaBundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 30655 Hannover, GermanyIME Process Metallurgy and Metal Recycling, RWTH Aachen University, Intzestraße 3, 52056 Aachen, GermanyFaculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaAcid mine drainage (AMD) is a waste from mining sites, usually acidic, with high concentrations of sulfates and heavy metal ions. This study investigates the AMD neutralization process using fly ash (FA) as an alternative material. Samples of FA from coal-fired power plants in Serbia (“Nikola Tesla” (EF) and “Kostolac” (KOST)) were analyzed and used. The results were compared with the treatment efficiency of commercial neutralization agent (NaOH). The alkaline nature of FA was the basis for use in the treatment process of the extremely acid Lake Robule (pH 2.46), located in the mining areas of eastern Serbia. The optimal S/L ratio for the AMD neutralization process determined for EF was 25 wt.%, and for KOST it was 20 wt.%. The mechanism of the neutralization process was analyzed using the ANC test and PHREEQC program. The element concentrations and pH values in solutions indicated that FA samples could neutralize Lake Robule with more than 99% of Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, and more than 89% of Pb precipitated. Formation of insoluble (oxy)hydroxide forms (Fe<sup>3+</sup> and Al<sup>3+</sup> ions) creates favorable conditions for co-precipitation of other trace metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, and Cd) from AMD, which is further enhanced by cation adsorption on FA particles. FA proved to be a more effective neutralization agent than NaOH due to its adsorption effect, while among the FA samples, KOST was more effective due to the aging process through the carbonization reaction. Using FA as an alternative material is a promising and sustainable method for treating AMD, with economic and environmental benefits.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/20/3244acid mine drainage (AMD)fly ashAMD treatmentzero wastereuse wastesafe discharge of waste |
| spellingShingle | Nela Petronijević Dragana Radovanović Marija Štulović Miroslav Sokić Gvozden Jovanović Željko Kamberović Srđan Stanković Srecko Stopic Antonije Onjia Analysis of the Mechanism of Acid Mine Drainage Neutralization Using Fly Ash as an Alternative Material: A Case Study of the Extremely Acidic Lake Robule in Eastern Serbia Water acid mine drainage (AMD) fly ash AMD treatment zero waste reuse waste safe discharge of waste |
| title | Analysis of the Mechanism of Acid Mine Drainage Neutralization Using Fly Ash as an Alternative Material: A Case Study of the Extremely Acidic Lake Robule in Eastern Serbia |
| title_full | Analysis of the Mechanism of Acid Mine Drainage Neutralization Using Fly Ash as an Alternative Material: A Case Study of the Extremely Acidic Lake Robule in Eastern Serbia |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of the Mechanism of Acid Mine Drainage Neutralization Using Fly Ash as an Alternative Material: A Case Study of the Extremely Acidic Lake Robule in Eastern Serbia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of the Mechanism of Acid Mine Drainage Neutralization Using Fly Ash as an Alternative Material: A Case Study of the Extremely Acidic Lake Robule in Eastern Serbia |
| title_short | Analysis of the Mechanism of Acid Mine Drainage Neutralization Using Fly Ash as an Alternative Material: A Case Study of the Extremely Acidic Lake Robule in Eastern Serbia |
| title_sort | analysis of the mechanism of acid mine drainage neutralization using fly ash as an alternative material a case study of the extremely acidic lake robule in eastern serbia |
| topic | acid mine drainage (AMD) fly ash AMD treatment zero waste reuse waste safe discharge of waste |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/20/3244 |
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