Sulfate Removal from Acid Mine Drainage with Chitosan-Modified Red Mud Using Analytical Methods: Isotherm, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Studies
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 10
Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is an environmental concern, and its discharge into the surrounding environment can lead to acidification of water bodies and soil. In this research, red mud (RM) with alkaline pH as aluminum industry waste was implemented as an adsorbent for sulfate removal, which can be available in AMD and adsorption processes as an influential method was applied for AMD treating. Seawater washing (BRM), acid treatment (HRM), and composition with chitosan (CRM) were employed as RM modification methods. Various analytical methods were applied, including x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET), inductively coupled plasma analysis, and zeta potential, to have a clear comprehension of the sulfate adsorption behaviors and performance of activated methods. These methods have had desirable effects on the sulfate adsorption and adsorption amount, which range from for RM reached to 13.4, 39.7, and for BRM, HRM, and CRM, respectively. XRF results demonstrated a decrease in calcium and sodium ion amounts that can occur due to their dissolution in the acidic solution. It can create the active surface areas for adsorption onto RM with acid washing. Based on FTIR results, sharp intensity vibration was observed in BRM, HRM, and CRM after sulfate adsorption in the band that is approximately related to vibration. BRM porosity decreased from 0.0686 to due to various salts’ precipitation in seawater, but the porosity volume and specific surface area increased for HRM from 0.0686 to due to dissolution of ions in HCl. In addition, zeta potential increased to positive amounts from 2.7 to 3.4, 3.8, and 4.5 mv for BRM, HRM, and CRM, respectively. Langmuir isotherm indicated that the highest adsorption amount () as a calculated parameter for BRM, HRM, and CRM was 0.88, 2.45, and , respectively. Among modification methods, combination RM and chitosan had the highest impact and increases sulfate removal and adsorption amount at lower pH levels due to further positive charge on the CRM surface.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Amir Kabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, for providing the equipment and analysis grant, which facilitated the work.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 10 • October 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 6, 2023
Accepted: Feb 6, 2024
Published online: Jul 31, 2024
Published in print: Oct 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Dec 31, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Acids
- Adsorption
- Chemical compounds
- Chemical processes
- Chemicals
- Chemistry
- Drainage
- Environmental engineering
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Hydrologic engineering
- Irrigation engineering
- Mud
- Pollutants
- Salts
- Soil mechanics
- Soil properties
- Soil water
- Soils (by type)
- Sorption
- Sulfates
- Water and water resources
- Water discharge
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