Treatment of acid mine drainage via the hydrotalcite-like generation with sludge minimization

Coal mining causes acid mine drainage (AMD), which is harmful to the environment. This study investigated a hydrotalcite-like generation (HLG) method to treat AMD-influenced mine water collected from the Shandi River Basin. The HLG method efficiently converted ionic contaminants into hydrotalcite-like compounds, achieving over 99% removal of toxic metal ions and partial sulfate ions. Compared to traditional lime neutralisation, the HLG method demonstrated better removal efficiency for critical metal ions, including Fe3+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, and Al3+, while also achieving a 63.35% reduction in sludge yield. Additionally, the hydrotalcite-like product exhibited an adsorption capacity of 941 μg/g for As3+. The product can be considered an efficient adsorbent for treating As3+-contaminated wastewater. These findings underscore the HLG method’s effectiveness in AMD treatment and its potential for resource recovery and sustainable remediation.