%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