MEND Project 3.21.1(a)
July 1991

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Removal and recycling of metal contaminants and other by-products from acid mine drainage is the subject of this Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND) project. Critical literature surveys and investigations in several selected research alternatives such as chemical treatment (that is modifications to lime neutralization), solvent extraction, ion exchange, bioadsorption and electrowinning, are aimed at the development of a viable treatment process. The technical and economic feasibility of the techniques will be evaluated, in search of a process that produces a high quality effluent, secures a satisfactory revenue and minimizes/eliminates hazardous sludge production.

A literature review was carried out by CANMET scientists from four different disciplines in the field of metals and/or by-products recovery from acid mine drainage effluents. Existing expertise from the application of these technologies in related fields in mineral processing, as well as preliminary results from investigations with acid mine drainage have been utilized to evaluate selected publications and to determine the most promising process approaches. A preliminary compilation of data for acid mine drainage in Canada has been made, with particular interest in high metal concentrations.

Discussion provided in this report supports the opinion that the recovery of metals and/or by-products from acid mine drainage is a promising treatment approach from a technical, economical and environmental point of view. Detailed laboratory investigations should follow to study the recovery of various by-products, to develop a treatment process flowsheet and to evaluate the economical and environmental benefits. Chemical precipitation and selective ion exchange are the two most promising technologies for metals removal from acid mine drainage.

Supplementary Report

The literature review carried out in the main report revealed numerous processes to recover valuable metals from dilute acidic solutions. These processes should be evaluated for their applicability to acid mine drainage. There was a request to supplement the work by focusing on specific contaminants (i.e., Cu. Fe, Ni, Zn), critically assess the published techniques, offer specific recommendations and propose a focused research.

The criteria utilized in this supplemental evaluation were:

• the specific metals;
• economics;
• technical feasibility; and
• treated effluent quality.

Last Modified: 2003-11-26		Important Notices

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