HUMIC-BASED SORBENT: POTENTIAL OF TOXIC METAL REMOVAL FROM MINE WATERS OR INCREASE OF EFFICIENCY IN PASSIVE MINE WATER PURIFICATION

The report informs of a possibility to use natural humic-based sorbent in order to remove toxic metals from mine waters efficiently. Initial laboratory tests that focused mainly on sorptive capacity of the sorbent and possibility to leach metals from the sorbent proved high sorptive capacity of the sorbent for Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Zn and Ni ions as well as strength of their bond in the sorbent. It can be assumed that the sorbent can be used successfully in purification of mine waters containing toxic metals, while main use of the sorbent can be expected mainly in passive mine water purification.