9
this point proved an oxidation state and a precipitation of
the zinc.
D. Error Considerations
All the experiments were performed just once due to time
constraint and for that reason measurement errors or errors
in the experimental procedure may not be detected as such.
It was also observed that not every material was homoge-
neous and this was observed in the grain size of the materi-
als. The Activated coke material and the Biochar showed a
very low density due to their sizes and which an enhance-
ment was made by grinding to increase their surface area.
The material C – Charred fermentation residues became
very fine after the grinding. It could not be ensured that the
composition of the materials in the columns and sample
vessels was always the same. The material A had a high den-
sity and didn’t require grinding since the required mass was
able to fit the column. This may result in bias in the results
of the column test.
Regarding the APTsorb material, it must be stated that
it is designed for specific parameters like pH, maximum
height to diameter ration (American Peat Technology,
2022). Hence the capacity attained points to the fact that
the full potential wasn’t reached due to the unavailability
of these parameters set by the designer. For column experi-
ments, an experimental design with columns with a diame-
ter to height ratio of 1:10 – 1:20 is recommended according
to (Dorfner, 1963). Based on this, the same column being
used for all the experiments could help in the analysis. The
MPAES equipment as well has a 5% error which could
also affect the element concentration measurements. This
was reflected in fluctuations in measurements at various
instances. Through the charred fermentation residue exper-
iment, the material compacted with its wet BV reducing to
around 4BV. This must be considered in future experiment
by using a bigger column a bigger mass of the resin.
V. CONCLUSION
The material called the charred fermentation residues had
the highest sorption capacity of the zinc and also had a
high affinity towards the sorption of Ca, Mg which were
also present in the water but in lower concentrations.
The second best material was material B (Activated coke).
Material A (APTsorb) was the weakest in the adsorption
of zinc and didn’t show any affinity towards Mg, Ca and
Mn. In a further detailed literature research, result on the
present mine in Minnesota the Soudan mine was found
on the usage of APTsorb for its treatment of AMD. It was
found that by the usage of this material, the mine has made
a significant economic profit due to the easy availability of
this sorbent and also the larger volume of water its able to
treat. Meanwhile, unlike this experiment where no condi-
tions were chemically or physically influenced for the mate-
rials, with the Soudan Mine specially designed tanks with
specific diameters were used to allow backwashing of the
APTsorb. The objectives of this experiment were met and I
would recommend that future experiments could be made
on a larger scale using a bigger column and a faster flow
rate to improve upon the work. Also, the sorption capacity
for material C has to be fully investigated since it proved a
very good capacity yet the experiment not finishing due to
time constraints.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Data from this manuscript has been presented at the
MINEXCHANGE 2024 SME Annual Conference &
Expo, February 25–28, 2024, held in Phoenix, Arizona
REFERENCES
Agilent Technologies. (2015). Agilent 4200 microwave
plasma atomic emission spectrometer It’s in the Air.
www.agilent.com/chem/runsonair (viewed 18.09.22).
American Peat Technology. (2022). How to Deploy
APTsorb and APTIVATOR americanpeattech.com
/sorption-medial/ (viewed on 18.09.22)
Bayer (1998). The Ascension Mine. A Guide to the
Teaching and Visitor Mine of the TU Bergakademie
Freiberg. TU Bergakademie Freiberg.
Dorfner, K. (1963). Ion exchangers – properties and appli-
cations. Walter &Co.
Eger, P., Johnson, A., and Wagner, J., (2001). “Investigation
of Elevated Copper and Cobalt Concentrations in
Soudan Mine Drainage,” Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources, Division of Lands and Minerals, St.
Paul, MN, 36pp including appendices.
Eger, P., Jones, P., and Green D,. (2009). “Solving Mine
drainage water issues with peat-based sorption media”
Mining Engineering, 2016, Vol.68, No.2, pp. 38–43
Eger, P., Paulson, E., and Green D,. (2008). “The Use of
Peat Pellets to Remove Copper and Cobalt from Mine
Drainage.” Proceedings of the 24th Annual Meeting of
the ASMR, Richmond VA, 2008.
Kluge, A. Martin, M. Baacke, D. Hoppe, T. (1995). The
“Himmelfahrt Fundgrube” teaching mine of the TU
Bergakademie Freiberg -a natural laboratory for hydro-
geological and environmental geochemical research.
Internet homepage of the Institute for Mineralogy
of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg (www.mineral.tu
-freiberg.de)
this point proved an oxidation state and a precipitation of
the zinc.
D. Error Considerations
All the experiments were performed just once due to time
constraint and for that reason measurement errors or errors
in the experimental procedure may not be detected as such.
It was also observed that not every material was homoge-
neous and this was observed in the grain size of the materi-
als. The Activated coke material and the Biochar showed a
very low density due to their sizes and which an enhance-
ment was made by grinding to increase their surface area.
The material C – Charred fermentation residues became
very fine after the grinding. It could not be ensured that the
composition of the materials in the columns and sample
vessels was always the same. The material A had a high den-
sity and didn’t require grinding since the required mass was
able to fit the column. This may result in bias in the results
of the column test.
Regarding the APTsorb material, it must be stated that
it is designed for specific parameters like pH, maximum
height to diameter ration (American Peat Technology,
2022). Hence the capacity attained points to the fact that
the full potential wasn’t reached due to the unavailability
of these parameters set by the designer. For column experi-
ments, an experimental design with columns with a diame-
ter to height ratio of 1:10 – 1:20 is recommended according
to (Dorfner, 1963). Based on this, the same column being
used for all the experiments could help in the analysis. The
MPAES equipment as well has a 5% error which could
also affect the element concentration measurements. This
was reflected in fluctuations in measurements at various
instances. Through the charred fermentation residue exper-
iment, the material compacted with its wet BV reducing to
around 4BV. This must be considered in future experiment
by using a bigger column a bigger mass of the resin.
V. CONCLUSION
The material called the charred fermentation residues had
the highest sorption capacity of the zinc and also had a
high affinity towards the sorption of Ca, Mg which were
also present in the water but in lower concentrations.
The second best material was material B (Activated coke).
Material A (APTsorb) was the weakest in the adsorption
of zinc and didn’t show any affinity towards Mg, Ca and
Mn. In a further detailed literature research, result on the
present mine in Minnesota the Soudan mine was found
on the usage of APTsorb for its treatment of AMD. It was
found that by the usage of this material, the mine has made
a significant economic profit due to the easy availability of
this sorbent and also the larger volume of water its able to
treat. Meanwhile, unlike this experiment where no condi-
tions were chemically or physically influenced for the mate-
rials, with the Soudan Mine specially designed tanks with
specific diameters were used to allow backwashing of the
APTsorb. The objectives of this experiment were met and I
would recommend that future experiments could be made
on a larger scale using a bigger column and a faster flow
rate to improve upon the work. Also, the sorption capacity
for material C has to be fully investigated since it proved a
very good capacity yet the experiment not finishing due to
time constraints.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Data from this manuscript has been presented at the
MINEXCHANGE 2024 SME Annual Conference &
Expo, February 25–28, 2024, held in Phoenix, Arizona
REFERENCES
Agilent Technologies. (2015). Agilent 4200 microwave
plasma atomic emission spectrometer It’s in the Air.
www.agilent.com/chem/runsonair (viewed 18.09.22).
American Peat Technology. (2022). How to Deploy
APTsorb and APTIVATOR americanpeattech.com
/sorption-medial/ (viewed on 18.09.22)
Bayer (1998). The Ascension Mine. A Guide to the
Teaching and Visitor Mine of the TU Bergakademie
Freiberg. TU Bergakademie Freiberg.
Dorfner, K. (1963). Ion exchangers – properties and appli-
cations. Walter &Co.
Eger, P., Johnson, A., and Wagner, J., (2001). “Investigation
of Elevated Copper and Cobalt Concentrations in
Soudan Mine Drainage,” Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources, Division of Lands and Minerals, St.
Paul, MN, 36pp including appendices.
Eger, P., Jones, P., and Green D,. (2009). “Solving Mine
drainage water issues with peat-based sorption media”
Mining Engineering, 2016, Vol.68, No.2, pp. 38–43
Eger, P., Paulson, E., and Green D,. (2008). “The Use of
Peat Pellets to Remove Copper and Cobalt from Mine
Drainage.” Proceedings of the 24th Annual Meeting of
the ASMR, Richmond VA, 2008.
Kluge, A. Martin, M. Baacke, D. Hoppe, T. (1995). The
“Himmelfahrt Fundgrube” teaching mine of the TU
Bergakademie Freiberg -a natural laboratory for hydro-
geological and environmental geochemical research.
Internet homepage of the Institute for Mineralogy
of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg (www.mineral.tu
-freiberg.de)