Reduction of acid mine drainage by passivation of pyrite surfaces: A review

Zhihong Tu; Qi Wu; Hongping He; Shu Zhou; Jie Liu; Huijun He; Chongmin Liu; Zhi Dang; John R Reinfelder

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155116

Reduction of acid mine drainage by passivation of pyrite surfaces: A review

Sci Total Environ. 2022 Aug 1:832:155116. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155116. Epub 2022 Apr 6.

Authors

Zhihong Tu¹, Qi Wu², Hongping He³, Shu Zhou², Jie Liu⁴, Huijun He⁵, Chongmin Liu⁵, Zhi Dang⁶, John R Reinfelder⁷

Affiliations

¹ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China. Electronic address: tzh870207@glut.edu.cn.
² College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China.
³ CAS Key Laboratory of Mineralogy and Metallogeny, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China.
⁴ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Water Pollution Control and Water Safety in Karst Area, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China.
⁵ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology for Science and Education Combined with Science and Technology Innovation Base, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China.
⁶ The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
⁷ Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.

PMID: 35398133
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155116

Abstract

Acid mine drainage (AMD), a source of considerable environmental pollution worldwide, has prompted the development of many strategies to alleviate its effects. Unfortunately, the methods available for remedial treatment of AMD and the damage it cause are generally costly, labor-intensive, and time-consuming. Furthermore, such treatments may result in secondary pollution. Alternatively, treating the AMD problem at its source through pyrite surface passivation has become an important topic for research because it has the potential to reduce or prevent the generation of AMD and associated pollution. This review summarizes various pyrite anti-corrosion technologies, including the formation of various passivating coatings (inorganic, organic and organosilane) and carrier-microencapsulation. Several effective long-term passivators are identified, although many of them currently have important deficiencies that limit their practical application. Combining the mechanisms of existing passivation agents or new artificial materials, while considering environmental conditions, costs, and long-term passivation performance, is a feasible direction for future research.

Keywords: Acid mine drainage; Environmental protection; Pollution prevention technology; Pyrite; Surface passivation.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Acids
Iron
Mining*
Sulfides*

Substances

Acids
Sulfides
pyrite
Iron