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BIBTEX RIS

Reduction of acidity and removal of metal ions from coal mining effluents using chitosan microspheres

2007; Elsevier BV; Volume: 149; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.04.012

1873-3336

Rogério Laus, Reginaldo Geremias, Helder Lopes Vasconcelos, Mauro C. M. Laranjeira, Valfredo T. Fávere,

Extraction and Separation Processes

Effluents from coal mining operations are not only highly acid but also depict elevated concentrations of metals which may contaminate the environment. Due to the polybasic characteristic of chitosan, this biopolymer is capable of both neutralizing and removing iron, aluminum and copper ions from such effluents. The present study aimed at evaluating the use of chitosan microspheres for their importance in continuous systems. The microspheres were prepared by the phase inversion method. Their average diameter and morphology were determined. Water samples from decantation pool (DP) and acidic mine drainage (AMD) effluents were treated using different amounts of microspheres. The pH and concentration of Fe, Al and Cu ions were evaluated both before and after treatment of effluent samples. The results revealed that the microspheres were capable of increasing the pH of DP and AMD samples from 2.34 and 2.58, respectively, to 6.20, i.e., close to neutrality. The treatment also resulted in full removal of the metals investigated.