Case study modelling for an ettringite treatment process

Authors

  • C Germishuizen Industrial and Mining Water Research Unit, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • S Franzsen Miwatek, P/Bag X29, Gallo Manor 2052, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • H Grobler Miwatek, P/Bag X29, Gallo Manor 2052, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • GS Simate 1. Industrial and Mining Water Research Unit, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; 2. Centre in Water Research and Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, P/Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa
  • CM Sheridan 1. Industrial and Mining Water Research Unit, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; 2. Centre in Water Research and Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, P/Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v44i1.10

Keywords:

acid mine drainage, ettringite, sulphate, PHREEQC

Abstract

Several technologies have been developed to treat acid mine drainage (AMD) and attention is shifting towards the removal of sulphate. The formation of ettringite, a hydrous calcium aluminium sulphate mineral, is an option to treat AMD and can reduce the sulphate concentration to well below the discharge specifications. The process modelled in this study includes the formation of ettringite and the recovery of gibbsite through the decomposition of recycled ettringite. The modelling of this process was done using PHREEQC and the results presented in this paper are based on the outcome of different case studies that investigated how the process is affected by a change in parameters. These include, changing the feed water pH, altering the split fractions in the hydrocyclone for the gibbsite recovery and varying the pH for ettringite formation.

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Published

2018-01-31

Issue

Vol. 44 No. 1 January (2018): Water SA

Section

Research paper

License

Creative Commons License

The content of this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence.  Users are permitted to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal under the terms of this Licence, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author, provided the source is attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors.

How to Cite

Germishuizen, C. (2018) “Case study modelling for an ettringite treatment process”, Water SA, 44(1 January). doi:10.4314/wsa.v44i1.10.