Simultaneous removal of multiple metal(loid)s and neutralization of acid mine drainage using 3D-printed bauxite-containing geopolymers

Nuno P F Gonçalves; Eduardo Ferreira da Silva; Luís A C Tarelho; João A Labrincha; Rui M Novais

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132718

Simultaneous removal of multiple metal(loid)s and neutralization of acid mine drainage using 3D-printed bauxite-containing geopolymers

J Hazard Mater. 2024 Jan 15:462:132718. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132718. Epub 2023 Oct 5.

Authors

Nuno P F Gonçalves¹, Eduardo Ferreira da Silva², Luís A C Tarelho³, João A Labrincha⁴, Rui M Novais⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry/CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: nunopfgoncalves@ua.pt.
² GeoBioTec Research Unit, Department of Geosciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
³ Department of Environment and Planning & Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
⁴ Dept. of Materials and Ceramic Engineering/CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.

PMID: 37844497
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132718

Abstract

The mining industry is one of the largest sources of environmental concern globally. Herein we report for the first time the application of highly porous 3D-printed sorbents containing high amounts (50 wt%) of red mud, a hazardous waste derived from the alumina industry, for the remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD). The sorption capacity of the inorganic polymers was initially evaluated for the simultaneous removal of five metal(loid) elements, namely Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and As(V) in synthetic wastewater. The effect of the initial concentration, pH and contact time were assessed, reaching removal efficiencies between 64% and 98%, at pH 4 and initial concentration of 50 mg L^-1 of each cation, after 24 h of contact time. The 3D-printed lattices were then used for the remediation of the real AMD water samples, and the role of adsorption and acidic neutralization was investigated. Lattices were also successfully regenerated and reused up to five cycles without compromising their performance. This work paves the way for the use of an industrial waste derived from the production of alumina as raw material for the management of the hazardous AMD.

Keywords: Acid mine drainage; Adsorption; Direct ink writing; Inorganic polymer; Red mud.