Scientists turn toxic acid mine drainage into water treatment technology

Acidic wastewater from a copper mine In Romania. FILE PIC/ISTOCK

Researchers have found a way to convert acid mine drainage (AMD) - mining most toxic byproduct - into ferric chloride, a widely used coagulant for water purification.

AMD is can contaminate rivers, groundwater, and soil for decades. The team extracted ferric iron from AMD and chemically converted it into ferric chloride by using magnesium oxide nanoparticles produced from magnesite.

These nanoparticles precipitated iron from AMD, which was then reacted with hydrochloric acid to produce ferric chloride. The approach could turn a major hazard into an economic opportunity.

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