• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.687-694
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• 2020

Two oxidizing agents (KMnO4, H2O2), and one neutralizing agent (NaOH) were applied to evaluate Mn removal in mine drainage. A Mn2+ solution and artificial mine drainage were prepared to identify the Fe2+ influence on Mn2+ removal. The initial concentrations of Mn2+ and Fe2+ were 0.1 mM and 1.0 mM, respectively. The injection amount of oxidizing and neutralizing agents were set to ratios of 0.1, 0.67, 1.0, and 2.0 with respect to the Mn2+ mole concentration. KMnO4 exhibited a higher removal efficiency of Mn2+ than did H2O2 and NaOH, where approximately 90% of Mn2+ was removed by KMnO4. A black MnO2 was precipitated that indicated the oxidation of Mn2+ to Mn4+ after an oxidizing agent was added. In addition, MnO2 (pyrolusite) is a stable precipitate under pH-Eh conditions in the solution. However, relatively low removal ratios (6%) of Mn2+ were observed in the artificial mine drainage that included 1.0 mM of Fe2+. The rapid oxidation tendency of Fe2+ as compared to that of Mn2+ was determined to be the main reason for the low removal ratios of Mn2+. The oxidation of Fe2+ showed a decrease of Fe concentration in solution after injection of the oxidizing and neutralizing agents. In addition, Mn7+ of KMnO4 was reduced to Mn2+ by Fe2+ oxidation. Thus, the concentrations of Mn increased in artificial mine drainage. These results revealed that the oxidation method is more effective than the neutralization method for Mn removal in solution. It should also be mentioned that to achieve the Mn removal in mine drainage, Fe2+ removal must be conducted prior to Mn2+ oxidation.