Evaluation of the Potential of Indigenous Calcareous Shale for Neutralization and Removal of Arsenic and Heavy Metals From Acid Mine Drainage in the Taxco Mining Area, Mexico (original) (raw)

Abstract

In the Taxco mining area, sulfide mineral oxidation from inactive tailings impoundments and abandoned underground mines has produced acid mine drainage (AMD; pH 2.2–2.9) enriched in dissolved concentrations (mg l−1) sulfate, heavy metals, and arsenic (As): SO4 2− (pH 1470–5454), zinc (Zn; 3.0–859), iron (Fe; pH 5.5–504), copper (Cu; pH 0.7–16.3), cadmium (Cd; pH 0.3–6.7), lead (Pb; pH < 0.05–1.8), and As (pH < 0.002–0.6). Passive-treatment systems using limestone have been widely used to remediate AMD in many parts of the world. In limestone-treatment systems, calcite simultaneously plays the role of neutralizing and precipitating agent. However, the acid-neutralizing potential of limestone decreases when surfaces of the calcite particles become less reactive as they are progressively coated by metal precipitates. This study constitutes first-stage development of passive-treatment systems for treating AMD in the Taxco mine area using indigenous calcareous shale. This geologic material consists of a mixture of calcite, quartz, muscovite, albite, and montmorillonite. Results of batch leaching test indicate that calcareous shale significantly increased the pH (to values of 6.6–7.4) and decreased heavy metal and As concentrations in treated mine leachates. Calcareous shale had maximum removal efficiency (100%) for As, Pb, Cu, and Fe. The most mobile metals ions were Cd and Zn, and their average percentage removal was 87% and 89%, respectively. In this natural system (calcareous shale), calcite provides a source of alkalinity, whereas the surfaces of quartz and aluminosilicate minerals possibly serve as a preferred locus of deposition for metals, resulting in the neutralizing agent (calcite) beings less rapidly coated with the precipitating metals and therefore able to continue its neutralizing function for a longer time.

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Acknowledgements

We thank I. Puente Lee (Facultad de Química, UNAM), T. Pi, and O. Zamora (Instituto de Geología, UNAM) for their laboratory assistance. The authors are indebted to anonymous reviewers for their invaluable suggestions and comments, which greatly enriched an earlier version of this article. Funding was provided by DGAPA (Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico, UNAM) project PAPIIT IN 105108, for which the authors are grateful.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Instituto de Geología, Ciudad Universitaria, Delegación Coyoacán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, México, DF, México
   F. M. Romero & L. Núñez
2. Facultad de Química, Ciudad Universitaria, Delegación Coyoacán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, México, DF, México
   M. E. Gutiérrez & A. E. Ceniceros-Gómez
3. Instituto de Geofísica, Ciudad Universitaria, Delegación Coyoacán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, México, DF, México
   M. A. Armienta

Authors

1. F. M. Romero
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2. L. Núñez
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3. M. E. Gutiérrez
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4. M. A. Armienta
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5. A. E. Ceniceros-Gómez
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Correspondence toF. M. Romero.

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Romero, F.M., Núñez, L., Gutiérrez, M.E. et al. Evaluation of the Potential of Indigenous Calcareous Shale for Neutralization and Removal of Arsenic and Heavy Metals From Acid Mine Drainage in the Taxco Mining Area, Mexico.Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 60, 191–203 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-010-9544-z

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• Received: 16 December 2009
• Accepted: 04 May 2010
• Published: 04 June 2010
• Issue Date: February 2011
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-010-9544-z

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