Zero-valent iron nanoparticles in treatment of acid mine water from in situ uranium leaching

Acid mine water from in situ chemical leaching of uranium (Straz pod Ralskem, Czech Republic) was treated in laboratory scale experiments by zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI). For the first time, nZVI were applied for the treatment of the real acid water system containing the miscellaneous mixtu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemosphere (Oxford) 2011-02, Vol.82 (8), p.1178-1184
Main Authors: Klimkova, Stepanka, Cernik, Miroslav, Lacinova, Lenka, Filip, Jan, Jancik, Dalibor, Zboril, Radek
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acid mine water
acid treatment
aluminum
Applied sciences
cations
Contaminant removal
Contaminants
Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods
Exact sciences and technology
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
In situ leaching
Iron
Iron - chemistry
iron oxyhydroxides
Kinetics
Leaching
Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry
Mining
nanoparticles
Nanostructure
oxidation
Oxidation-Reduction
pollutants
Pollution
polymers
reaction kinetics
redox potential
saline water
sulfates
Surface stabilizing shell
toxicity
Uranium
Uranium - chemistry
Water Pollutants, Radioactive - chemistry
Water treatment
Zero-valent iron nanoparticles
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Summary:Acid mine water from in situ chemical leaching of uranium (Straz pod Ralskem, Czech Republic) was treated in laboratory scale experiments by zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI). For the first time, nZVI were applied for the treatment of the real acid water system containing the miscellaneous mixture of pollutants, where the various removal mechanisms occur simultaneously. Toxicity of the treated saline acid water is caused by major contaminants represented by aluminum and sulphates in a high concentration, as well as by microcontaminants like As, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, U, V, and Zn. Laboratory batch experiments proved a significant decrease in concentrations of all the monitored pollutants due to an increase in pH and a decrease in oxidation–reduction potential related to an application of nZVI. The assumed mechanisms of contaminants removal include precipitation of cations in a lower oxidation state, precipitation caused by a simple pH increase and co-precipitation with the formed iron oxyhydroxides. The possibility to control the reaction kinetics through the nature of the surface stabilizing shell (polymer vs. FeO nanolayer) is discussed as an important practical aspect.
ISSN:0045-6535
1879-1298
DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.11.075