THE PERFORMANCE OF FLY ASH-BASED COAGULANTS TO REMOVE HEAVY METALS FROM ACID MINE DRAINAGE

Abstract

As one of the largest coal-producing countries, Indonesia’s mining activity can increase the potential for significant environmental damage, particularly the increased production of wastewater and acid mine drainage. This study focused on modified fly ash’s ability to remove turbidity and heavy metals from artificial acid mine drainage. The modification was applied by extracting fly ash, leached with different acids like hydrochloric and sulfuric acid, which can be utilized as coagulants using jar tests. The effects of detention time, initial and final potential of hydrogen, and coagulant dose were investigated. The result showed that the modified fly ash coagulants show potential use in reducing turbidity, copper, and zinc of artificial acid mine drainage. The fly ash-hydrochloric acid coagulant showed better results in removing zinc, while the fly ash-sulfuric acid coagulant is better in removing copper.