acid mine drainage
Hydrometallurgy 104 (2010) 459–464
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Hydrometallurgy j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s ev i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / h yd r o m e t
Biokinetic test for the characterisation of AMD generation potential of sulfide mineral wastes
A.H. Hesketh a,b, J.L Broadhurst b, C.G Bryan a, R.P van Hille a, S.T.L. Harrison a,b,⁎ a b
Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
Minerals-to-Metals Research Initiative, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
a r t i c l e
i n f o
Available online 17 June 2010
Keywords:
Acid mine drainage
Prediction test
Sulfide tailings
a b s t r a c t
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is formed by the microbially catalysed oxidation of sulfide minerals on exposure to moisture and air. It results in the ongoing contamination of water streams with acidity, sulfate and metal ions in solution, limiting subsequent use of the water without its remediation. AMD prevention is a key requirement for meeting mine closure standards and AMD prediction plays an integral role in waste management and AMD prevention. However, both the static and kinetic tests used currently have shortfalls, including only providing a worst case scenario, providing limited kinetic data, particularly with respect to microbial catalysis or requiring an excessive time frame for the provision of useful data. In this study, we review biological tests reported to predict AMD generation potential and propose an extension to these tests in the form of a biokinetic test. The proposed test provides information on the potential and likelihood of acidification upon microbial colonisation as well as the relative kinetics of the acid-consuming and acidproducing reactions. This provides more meaningful data than static tests, within a reasonable
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Hydrometallurgy j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s ev i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / h yd r o m e t
Biokinetic test for the characterisation of AMD generation potential of sulfide mineral wastes
A.H. Hesketh a,b, J.L Broadhurst b, C.G Bryan a, R.P van Hille a, S.T.L. Harrison a,b,⁎ a b
Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
Minerals-to-Metals Research Initiative, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
a r t i c l e
i n f o
Available online 17 June 2010
Keywords:
Acid mine drainage
Prediction test
Sulfide tailings
a b s t r a c t
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is formed by the microbially catalysed oxidation of sulfide minerals on exposure to moisture and air. It results in the ongoing contamination of water streams with acidity, sulfate and metal ions in solution, limiting subsequent use of the water without its remediation. AMD prevention is a key requirement for meeting mine closure standards and AMD prediction plays an integral role in waste management and AMD prevention. However, both the static and kinetic tests used currently have shortfalls, including only providing a worst case scenario, providing limited kinetic data, particularly with respect to microbial catalysis or requiring an excessive time frame for the provision of useful data. In this study, we review biological tests reported to predict AMD generation potential and propose an extension to these tests in the form of a biokinetic test. The proposed test provides information on the potential and likelihood of acidification upon microbial colonisation as well as the relative kinetics of the acid-consuming and acidproducing reactions. This provides more meaningful data than static tests, within a reasonable
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