Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 23 No 3 (2019): 472 - 478

THE USE OF LOW GRADE LIMESTONE IN ACID MINE DRAINAGE TREATMENT

(Penggunaan Batu Kapur Bergred Rendah dalam Rawatan Saliran Lombong Berasid)

Anuar Othman^1,2, Azli Sulaiman¹*, Ismail Ibrahim²

¹Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

²Mineral Research Centre,

Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia, 31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

*Corresponding author: azli@kimia.fs.utm.my

Received: 25 October 2017; Accepted: 22 January 2019

Abstract

In this study, low grade limestone (LGL) was used in treating acid mine drainage (AMD). Based on X-ray fluorescence (XRF) result, the content of calcium carbonate mineral in limestone used was around 80% that can be considered as LGL. The pH of AMD samples increased after treated with all parameter weights of LGL at every five minutes of interval times. The parameters weights of LGL used in the experiments were 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 g. For every parameter weight of LGL, the interval times used were 0, 5, 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes. The highest of pH value obtained was 6.44 ± 0.00 by using 6.0 g of LGL at interval time 30 minutes. The suitable pH value chosen was 6.11 ± 0.00 by using 5.0 g of LGL at interval time 20 minutes because the parameter had complied with Standards A and B of Environmental Quality Act 1974 with less cost compared to other parameters. Heavy metals content such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, iron, manganese and zinc had decreased after reaction with all LGL weights. The content of arsenic in AMD samples after reaction with all LGL weights had complied with both standards’ requirement except with 1.0 g of LGL. The percentage of removal heavy metals by using all parameter weights of LGL such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, iron, manganese and zinc were around 98.8 to 99.8%, 53.8 to 88.5%, 94.7 to 96.5%, 99.6 to 100%, 34.6 to 38.9% and 27.0 to 90.1%, respectively.

Keywords: limestone, acid mine drainage, heavy metal

Abstrak

Dalam kajian ini, batu kapur bergred rendah (LGL) telah digunakan dalam rawatan saliran lombong berasid (AMD). Berdasarkan keputusan pendaflour sinar-X (XRF), kandungan mineral kalsium karbonat di dalam batu kapur yang digunakan adalah sekitar 80% yang boleh dianggap sebagai LGL. pH sampel AMD telah bertambah selepas bertindakbalas dengan semua parameter berat LGL pada setiap lima minit selang masa. Parameter berat LGL yang digunakan dalam eksperimen adalah 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 dan 6.0 g. Untuk setiap parameter berat LGL, selang masa yang digunakan adalah 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 dan 30 minit. Nilai pH yang paling tinggi diperolehi adalah 6.44 ± 0.00 dengan menggunakan 6.0 g LGL pada selang masa 30 minit. Nilai pH yang paling sesuai telah dipilih adalah 6.11 ± 0.00 dengan menggunakan 5.0 g LGL pada selang masa 20 minit kerana parameter ini adalah kurang kos untuk mematuhi Piawai A dan B berbanding parameter yang lain. Kandungan logam berat seperti arsenik, kadmium, kromium, besi, mangan dan zink telah berkurangan selepas bertindakbalas dengan semua berat LGL. Kandungan arsenik dalam sampel-sampel AMD selepas bertindakbalas dengan semua berat LGL telah dipatuhi dengan kehendak kedua-dua standard kecuali dengan menggunakan 1.0 g LGL. Peratusan penyingkiran logam berat dengan menggunakan semua parameter berat LGL seperti arsenik, kadmium, besi, mangan dan zink masing-masing adalah sekitar 98.8 hingga 99.8%, 53.8 hingga 88.5%, 94.7 hingga 96.5%, 99.6 hingga 100%, 34.6 hingga 38.9% and 27.0 hingga 90.1%.

Kata kunci: batu kapur, saliran lombong berasid, logam berat

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