• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.27-32
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• 2009

This study evaluates tripolyphosphate's ability to treat AMD (Acid Mine Drainage). Based on the batch test results for reaction between tripolyphosphate and AMD obtained from Munkyung coal mine, $4.7{\times}10^{-3}$ mole is the optimum dosage of tripolyphosphate for AMD treatment. $Ca^{2+}$ concentration is decreased from $16.4mg/{\ell}$ to $5.6mg/{\ell}$, in other words, the removal rate of $Ca^{2+}$ is 65.9%. $Fe^{3+}$ concentration is decreased from $3.7mg/{\ell}$ to $0.02mg/{\ell}$, that is, the removal rate of $Fe^{3+}$ is 99.5%. $SO{_4}^{2-}$ concentration ranges from $526.8mg/{\ell}$ to $566.5mg/{\ell}$, which shows no obvious decrease. After dosing up tripolyphosphate, $Na^+$ concentration in AMD ranges from $549.8mg/{\ell}$ to $599.3mg/{\ell}$ and orthophosphate concentration in AMD ranges from $6.82mg/{\ell}$ to $7.60mg/{\ell}$. It was found that the precipitate in the order of amount is Apatite${\gg}{\beta}$-tricalcium phosphate > $Fe(OH)_3$ from SEM, XRF, XRD analyses. Consequently, the treatment by tripolyphosphate is effective in pH buffering and in the removal of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Fe^{3+}$.