Selective Removal of Transient Metal Ions from Acid Mine Drainage and the Possibility of Metallic Copper Recovery with Electrolysis

Abstract

The low pH and high salinity of acid mine drainage (AMD) fundamentally complicates the sorption processes. We explored the selective removal of Cu, Ni and Co ions present in AMD from the excess of ferrous ions of using a chelating resins Lewatit® MonoPlus TP 220 and Lewatit® TP 208. Also, the recovery of metal copper from desorption solution using electrolysis was investigated. The results showed that the most effective sorption of metal ions was achieved with chelating sorbent Lewatit® TP 220. The dynamic capacity of the sorbent under the given conditions (pH= 2.5 ± 0.03, presence of Fe(II/III), Zn(II), Mn(II)) decreased in the following order: Cu(II) (43.3 ± 1.4 g/L) > Ni(II) (22.1 ± 2.1 g/L) > Co(II) (3.6 ± 0.4 g/L). Chelating resin Lewatit® TP 208 under the same conditions showed lower efficiency: Cu(II) (30.6 ± 1.3 g/L) > Ni(II) (9.1 ± 0.17 g/L) > Co(II) (1.3 ± 0.08 g/L). The weak base anion exchanger Purolite® A 832 was successfully used to take up Cu(II) from ammonia solution and easily regenerated with sulfuric acid. The sorption capacity for Cu(II) was calculated to be 19.2 ± 0.5 g/L. Electrolysis experiments were performed with a fluidized bed electrolysis reactor where metallic copper was regenerated from desorption solutions and purified sulfuric acid solutions were obtained.