%0 Journal Article %A Thembelihle Nkonyane and Freeman Ntuli and Edison Muzenda %D 2012 %J International Journal of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering %B World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology %I Open Science Index 68, 2012 %T Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage Using Un- Activated Bentonite and Limestone %U https://publications.waset.org/pdf/8043 %V 68 %X The use of un-activated bentonite, and un-activated bentonite blended with limestone for the treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) was investigated. Batch experiments were conducted in a 5 L PVC reactor. Un-activated bentonite on its own did not effectively neutralize and remove heavy metals from AMD. The final pH obtained was below 4 and the metal removal efficiency was below 50% for all the metals when bentonite solid loadings of 1, 5 and 10% were used. With un-activated bentonite (1%) blended with 1% limestone, the final pH obtained was approximately 7 and metal removal efficiencies were greater than 60% for most of the metals. The Langmuir isotherm gave the best fit for the experimental data giving correlation coefficient (R2) very close to 1. Thus, it was concluded that un-activated bentonite blended with limestone is suitable for potential applications in removing heavy metals and neutralizing AMD. %P 667 - 672