US 2016/0244344 A1 · APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR TREATING ACID MINE DRAINAGE USING ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTION

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a system for treating acid mine drainage. The apparatus includes first and second reaction baths for receiving acid mine drainage, wherein the first and second reaction baths are provided with inlets and outlets and are separated from each other to prevent communication between acid mine drainages, an electrically connected anode and a cathode installed in each of the first and second reaction baths, and an electron transport medium for connecting the first reaction bath receiving the anode and the second reaction bath receiving the cathode. The electron transport medium blocks the transport of metal cations and allows the transport of electrons between acid mine drainages in the first and second reaction baths. Ferrous ions are oxidized to ferric ions in the acid mine drainage to precipitate hydroxides in the first reaction bath, and hydroxide ions are produced in the second reaction bath.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus for treating acid mine drainage, the apparatus comprising:

a first reaction bath and a second reaction bath, in which inlets and outlets of the acid mine drainage are provided, the first reaction bath and the second reaction bath receiving the acid mine drainage and being separated from each other to prevent the communication between the acid mine drainages;
an anode which is installed in the first reaction bath, and a cathode which is installed in the second reaction bath and electrically connected to the anode;
and
an electron transport medium for connecting the first reaction bath receiving the anode and the second reaction bath receiving the cathode, the electron transport medium blocking the transport of metal cations and allowing the transport of electrons between the acid mine drainages received in the first reaction bath and the second reaction bath,
ferrous ions being oxidized to ferric ions in the acid mine drainage to precipitate hydroxides in the first reaction bath, and hydroxide ions being produced in the second reaction bath.

2 more elements

A system for treating acid mine drainage, the system comprising:

an electrochemical reaction bath comprising a first reaction bath provided with an anode and receiving acid mine drainage, a second reaction bath provided with a cathode electrically connected with the anode and receiving an aqueous solution, the second reaction bath being separated from the first reaction bath, ferrous ions being oxidized to ferric ions in the first reaction bath to precipitate hydroxides, hydroxide ions being produced in the second reaction bath;
and
a precipitation bath for receiving the acid mine drainage discharged from the first reaction bath and the aqueous solution discharged from the second reaction bath, controlling pH, and precipitating and recovering useful metals from the acid mine drainage,
the amount of the aqueous solution inflowing from the second reaction bath to the precipitation bath being controlled to control the pH of the precipitation bath.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and system for treating acid mine drainage using electrochemical reaction

Life of this patent

Apparatus and system for treating acid mine drainage using electrochemical reaction

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17