Remediation of coal mining wastewaters using chitosan microspheres

• Published in: Environmental technology 2003-12, Vol.24 (12), p.1509-1515
• Main Authors: Geremias, R., Pedrosa, R. C., Benassi, J. C., Fávere, V. T., Stolberg, J., Menezes, C. T. B., Laranjeira, M. C. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Toxicity; Animals; Applied sciences; Artemia salina; Chelating Agents - chemistry; Chitin - analogs & derivatives; Chitin - chemistry; Chitosan; Coal; coal mine wastewater; Coal mines; Contamination; Crustacea; Decantation; Exact sciences and technology; Industrial wastewaters; Lethal Dose 50; Microspheres; microspheres chitosan/ poly(vinylalcohol)/tetrasulphonated copper (II) phthalocyanine; Mining; Pollutants; Pollution; Remediation; Salt water; Toxicity; Toxicological evaluation; Treatment; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Wastewater; Wastewaters; Water Pollutants - isolation & purification; Water Pollutants - toxicity; Water pollution; Water Purification - methods; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0959-3330; 1479-487X
• DOI: 10.1080/09593330309385696

This study aimed to evaluate the potential use of chitosan and chitosan/poly(vinylalcohol) microspheres incorporating with tetrasulphonated copper (II) phthalocyanine (CTS/PVA/TCP) in the remediation of coal mining wastewaters. The process was monitored by toxicity tests both before and after adsorption treatments with chitosan and microspheres. Physicochemical parameters, including pH and trace-metal concentration, as well as bioindicators of water pollution were used to that end. Wastewater samples colleted from drainage of underground coal mines, decantation pools, and contaminated rivers were scrutinized. Acute toxicity tests were performed using the Brine Shrimp Test (BST) in order to evaluate the remediation efficiency of different treatments. The results showed that the pH of treated wastewater samples were improved to values dose to neutrality. Chitosan treatments were also effective in removing trace-metals. Pre-treatment with chitosan followed by microsphere treatment (CTS/PVA/TCP) was more effective in decreasing toxidty than the treatment using only chitosan. This was probably due to the elimination of pollutants other than trace-metals. Thus, the use of chitosan and microspheres is an adequate alternative towards remediation of water pollution from coal mining.