TY - GEN
T1 - Rapid alkalinity generation and metal removal from mine impacted water using crab-shell chitin under abiotic conditions
AU - Robinson-Lora, M. A.
AU - Brennan, R. A.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Crab-shell chitin has proven to be an efficient multifunctional substrate for the biological treatment of mine impacted waters (MIW). Beyond its capacity as an electron donor source, this material has shown high efficiency in the neutralization of acidic water and in the removal of metals, especially Mn. In this study, the performance of crab-shell chitin as a substrate for abiotic and anoxic MIW treatment was assessed to isolate its chemical and physical treatment mechanisms. Alkalinity generation and metal (Mn, Fe, Al) removal with crab-shell chitin were evaluated and compared to those obtained using limestone in closed-system and kinetic tests. Raw (R-SC20) and deproteinized (DP-SC20) crab-shell chitin were tested and compared to evaluate the effect of chitin-associated proteins. Anoxic, synthetic MIW (SMIW), with individual metal concentrations of 10 mg/L, was used in all tests. Systems for all tests were prepared and operated inside an anaerobic chamber by mixing crab-shell chitin or limestone with SMIW at predetermined ratios. In closed systems, 5 g/L of R-or DP-SC20 completely ≥95%) both Mn and Fe from single-metal SMIW. After 72 h, pH increased from 3 to 9.2-10.2, while 83-187 mg CaCO 3/L of alkalinity was generated. In contrast, 5-125 g-limestone/L only raised the pH to 7.8-8.3, leading to lower alkalinity levels (56-63 mg CaCO 3/L) and poor metal removal efficiencies (≤85%). In kinetic tests with 5 g-DP-SC20/L, removal of ≥95% of the initial metal load was achieved after 0.5, 6, and 48 h for Al, Fe, and Mn, respectively. Geochemical calculations (PHREEQC) indicate that precipitation of Al-hydroxides and rhodochrosite (MnCO 3) and/or MnHPO 4 are the probable mechanisms for Al and Mn removal. In the case of iron, geochemical calculations point to hydroxides precipitation; however, visual observations suggest the formation of green rust, a precursor of other more stable phases like goethite or lepidocrocite. The faster changes observed with DP-SC20 compared to limestone could be attributed to its significantly larger surface area. These results are the first to verify and quantify the capacity of crab-shell chitin to treat MIW abiotically.
AB - Crab-shell chitin has proven to be an efficient multifunctional substrate for the biological treatment of mine impacted waters (MIW). Beyond its capacity as an electron donor source, this material has shown high efficiency in the neutralization of acidic water and in the removal of metals, especially Mn. In this study, the performance of crab-shell chitin as a substrate for abiotic and anoxic MIW treatment was assessed to isolate its chemical and physical treatment mechanisms. Alkalinity generation and metal (Mn, Fe, Al) removal with crab-shell chitin were evaluated and compared to those obtained using limestone in closed-system and kinetic tests. Raw (R-SC20) and deproteinized (DP-SC20) crab-shell chitin were tested and compared to evaluate the effect of chitin-associated proteins. Anoxic, synthetic MIW (SMIW), with individual metal concentrations of 10 mg/L, was used in all tests. Systems for all tests were prepared and operated inside an anaerobic chamber by mixing crab-shell chitin or limestone with SMIW at predetermined ratios. In closed systems, 5 g/L of R-or DP-SC20 completely ≥95%) both Mn and Fe from single-metal SMIW. After 72 h, pH increased from 3 to 9.2-10.2, while 83-187 mg CaCO 3/L of alkalinity was generated. In contrast, 5-125 g-limestone/L only raised the pH to 7.8-8.3, leading to lower alkalinity levels (56-63 mg CaCO 3/L) and poor metal removal efficiencies (≤85%). In kinetic tests with 5 g-DP-SC20/L, removal of ≥95% of the initial metal load was achieved after 0.5, 6, and 48 h for Al, Fe, and Mn, respectively. Geochemical calculations (PHREEQC) indicate that precipitation of Al-hydroxides and rhodochrosite (MnCO 3) and/or MnHPO 4 are the probable mechanisms for Al and Mn removal. In the case of iron, geochemical calculations point to hydroxides precipitation; however, visual observations suggest the formation of green rust, a precursor of other more stable phases like goethite or lepidocrocite. The faster changes observed with DP-SC20 compared to limestone could be attributed to its significantly larger surface area. These results are the first to verify and quantify the capacity of crab-shell chitin to treat MIW abiotically.
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M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84865429918
SN - 9781615673735
T3 - 26th Annual Meetings of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation and 11th Billings Land Reclamation Symposium 2009
SP - 1127
EP - 1144
BT - 26th Annual Meetings of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation and 11th Billings Land Reclamation Symposium 2009
T2 - Joint Conference of 26th Annual Meetings of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation and 11th Billings Land Reclamation Symposium 2009
Y2 - 30 May 2009 through 5 June 2009
ER -