Removal of manganese and nickel ions from open pit mine waste water using reactive iron–carbon barrier

Removal of heavy metal ions from many tons of waste water in open pit mines is a complex ecological and technological challenge. The previous research implemented by the authors on using the redox-system Fe0–C for treatment of waste water in open pit iron ore mines with a view to removing another wide-spread contaminant–nitrate ions–demonstrated also high efficiency in removal of heavy metal ions. It is known that redox-systems on the basis of the galvanic coupling Fe0–C, Fe0–Cu are efficient in treatment of acidic effluents of the electroplating industry and acidic underspoil water. This study describes the results of integrated treatment of neutral and mildly alkaline waste water of an open pit iron ore mine, with removal of heavy metal ions using redox-system Fe0–C. It is shown that at the initial concentration of ions Mn2+ 0.51±0.13 mg/dm3 and Ni2+ 0.18±0.05 mg/dm3, the use of a reactive material containing the galvanic coupling Fe0–C at a mass ratio of 2:1 ensures a decrease in the content of heavy metal ions down to the required standards. The scanning electron microscopy and the X-ray phase analysis determined the chemical and phase compositions of a residue of redox processes. The residue is a mix of magnetite and goethite, and it is usable as a sorbent in removal of heavy metal ions. The obtained isotherms of adsorption of nickel and manganese ions show that adsorption follows a polymolecular reaction, and the sorbent capacity at the initial concentrations of ions Ni2+ 9.87±2.50 mg/dm3 and Mn2+ 10.71±2.70 mg/dm3 is 28.9 and 22.1 mg/g, respectively.

Bessonova E. N., Glushankova I. S. Removal of manganese and nickel ions from open pit mine waste water using reactive iron–carbon barrier. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(10):48-60. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_10_0_48.

E.N. Bessonova¹, Graduate Student, e-mail: el-81@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7909-2013,
I.S. Glushankova¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, e-mail: irina_chem@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-3376-8000,
¹ Perm National Research Polytechnic University, 614990, Perm, Russia.

E.N. Bessonova, e-mail: el-81@yandex.ru.

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