An integrated approach to AMD mitigation through sulfide removal from tailings

The formation of acid mine drainage (AMD) from the microbial oxidation of sulfides in mineral waste deposits is one of the major challenges facing the mining industry worldwide. Growing environmental awareness and subsequent changes in legislation has focused research in addressing the prevention of pollution by AMD. Current waste management approaches focus on deposition techniques to control AMD formation and on remediation. However, these approaches do not remove the risk of AMD generationand are yet to be proven effective in mitigating long-term acid generating potential. Incompliance with the principles of pollution prevention, addressing waste at its source,the aim of this work is to remove the risk of AMD generation by focusing on theremoval of sulfides from potentially acid generating tailings prior to disposal.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Hesketh, Alexander H

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Broadhurst, Jennifer Lee
• Harrison, STL

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11280

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/11280