Critical evaluation of the chemical composition of acid mine drainage for the development of statistical correlations linking electrical conductivity with acid mine drainage concentrations

Smith, J.; Sheridan, C.; van Dyk, L.; Harding, K.G.

Critical evaluation of the chemical composition of acid mine drainage for the development of statistical correlations linking electrical conductivity with acid mine drainage concentrations

dc.article.end-page	7
dc.article.start-page	1
dc.contributor.author	Smith, J.
dc.contributor.author	Sheridan, C.
dc.contributor.author	van Dyk, L.
dc.contributor.author	Harding, K.G.
dc.date.accessioned	2023-10-11T08:54:57Z
dc.date.available	2023-10-11T08:54:57Z
dc.date.issued	2022-05-06
dc.department	Centre in Water Research and Development
dc.description	Accepted Manuscript
dc.description.abstract	The design an effective treatment processes for the remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD) requires an understanding of the composition of the AMD water. The pH and elemental composition of AMD waters are site specific and are dependent on the regional geology, and environmental factors. To establish the chemical and physical characteristics of two AMD sites located in the Mpumalanga coal mining region, South Africa, samples were taken between February 2018 to April 2019. These data were compared against regulatory legislation, and the potential health effects of exposure indicated. Strong correlations were noted between parameters and statistical evaluation demonstrated that electrical conductivity (EC) could be a useful correlative for prediction of total acidity, dissolved iron, and sulfur concentrations in acidic AMD waters. From these findings, empirical correlations were used to derive regression equations which were used to derive the EC values corresponding to the respective water quality limits for TDS, dissolved iron, and sulfur to provide a rapid method for testing compliance. Given the site specificity of AMD composition, this approach is intended as a proof of concept for the development of a methodology for adaption at other AMD sites. The regression equations should not be considered as universal to all AMD sites and EC should also not be used as a replacement for more complete chemical analysis.
dc.description.abstract	The design an effective treatment processes for the remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD) requires an understanding of the composition of the AMD water. The pH and elemental composition of AMD waters are site specific and are dependent on the regional geology, and environmental factors. To establish the chemical and physical characteristics of two AMD sites located in the Mpumalanga coal mining region, South Africa, samples were taken between February 2018 to April 2019. These data were compared against regulatory legislation, and the potential health effects of exposure indicated. Strong correlations were noted between parameters and statistical evaluation demonstrated that electrical conductivity (EC) could be a useful correlative for prediction of total acidity, dissolved iron, and sulfur concentrations in acidic AMD waters. From these findings, empirical correlations were used to derive regression equations which were used to derive the EC values corresponding to the respective water quality limits for total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved iron, and sulfur to provide a rapid method for testing compliance. Given the site specificity of AMD composition, this approach is intended as a proof of concept for the development of a methodology for adaption at other AMD sites. The regression equations should not be considered as universal to all AMD sites and EC should also not be used as a replacement for more complete chemical analysis.
dc.description.librarian	PM2023
dc.faculty	Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.identifier.citation	Smith, J. et al. 2022. Critical evaluation of the chemical composition of acid mine drainage for the development of statistical correlations linking electrical conductivity with acid mine drainage concentrations. Environmental Advances 8, pp.
dc.identifier.doi	10.1016/j.envadv.2022.100241
dc.identifier.issn	2666-7657
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/10539/36697
dc.language.iso	en
dc.orcid.id	0000-0003-2708-4323
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.rights	© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync- nd/4.0/).
dc.school	School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering
dc.subject	correlation
dc.subject	electrical conductivity
dc.subject	physio-chemical composition
dc.subject	regression equations
dc.title	Critical evaluation of the chemical composition of acid mine drainage for the development of statistical correlations linking electrical conductivity with acid mine drainage concentrations
dc.type	Article