Treatment of Copper-Containing Acid Mine Drainage by Neutralization-Adsorption Process Using Calcite as Neutralizer and Polyhydroxamic Acid Resin as Adsorbent

Acid solution and copper-containing acid mine drainage (AMD) was treated by neutralization-adsorption process. The results showed that pH can be adjusted to 4.0 by adding 10g·L -1 calcite in acid solution with pH=1.0. Adsorption and desorption performance of poly(hydroxamic acid) (PHA) resin for Cu 2+ and Fe 3+ ions were investigated by column tests. The results showed that adsorption capacities of PHA for Cu 2+ and Fe 3+ ions were satisfying, and the metals adsorbed on PHA can be eluted by sulfuric acid solution effectively. AMD of Dexing copper mine of Jiangxi was treated as a sample. The results showed that 1.5g·L -1 calcite can remove almost all of the Fe 3+ ion, and Cu 2+ ion can be removed by PHA and then be eluted by sulfuric acid solution with adsorption ratio of 98.95% and elution ratio of 98.50%, separately.