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Acid mine drainage treatment and sequential metal recovery by means of bioelectrochemical technology
Author(s) -
LeonFernandez Luis Fernando,
MedinaDíaz Hassay Lizeth,
Pérez Omar González,
Romero Luis Rodríguez,
Villaseñor José,
FernándezMorales Francisco Jesús
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.6669
Subject(s) - electrolysis , tin , microbial fuel cell , metal , microbial electrolysis cell , nickel , cathode , anode , metallurgy , electrode , copper , chemistry , titanium , acid mine drainage , cathodic protection , materials science , nuclear chemistry , inorganic chemistry , electrolyte
Abstract BACKGROUND This work studied the treatment of and metal recovery from a synthetic acid mine drainage (AMD) containing 500 mg L −1 copper (Cu 2+ ) and iron (Fe +3 ), and 50 mg L −1 nickel (Ni 2+ ) and tin (Sn 2+ ) by using a bioelectrochemical system (BES). The presence of electroactive bacteria improved the performance of such reactor configuration, by contrast with systems with abiotic anodes. RESULTS Operating as a microbial fuel cell (MFC), all of the Fe 3+ was reduced to Fe 2+ in about 24 h and Cu 2+ was electrodeposited onto the cathodic surface, a Cu electrode, obtaining pure Cu 0 . Almost all of the Cu in the catholyte was recovered after four days. The maximum current density and power attained in this stage were 0.136 mA cm −2 and 0.0134 mW cm −2 , respectively. Subsequent operation as a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) allowed simultaneous recovery of the Fe 2+ , Ni 2+ and Sn 2+ by fixing the cathode potential at −0.7 V versus Ag/AgCl. The electrode material in this stage was titanium. The tin was completely deposited onto the cathodic surface after one day of electrolysis. After three days, 77% and 60% of Ni and Fe, respectively, was recovered. CONCLUSION It was possible to recover Cu 0 while generating electricity at the same time using a BES. The cell voltage required for the metal electrodeposition of Fe 2+ , Ni 2+ and Sn 2+ was low in the case of the BES because of the contribution of the electroactive bacteria. Sequential metal deposition is possible by adjusting the operating parameters of the BES reactors. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry