2007 Volume 48 Issue 12 Pages 3070-3078
The leaching of potentially toxic elements or the generation of acidity from mine waste often creates significant environmental pollution. A great deal of research has been undertaken to find an effective solution to the problem of acid mine drainage. An attractive solution has been proposed, not only efficient but also economical, as it uses another waste material. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of stabilizing acidic mine waste using alkaline industrial waste, paper sludge ash, produced by the pulp and paper industry, under laboratory conditions. By mixing mine waste with paper sludge ash (the weight ratio of mine waste to paper sludge ash is 10: 4), the eluted solution became neutral, and the concentrations of almost all metals dropped below the Japanese effluent standard. The inhibition of acid mine drainage with addition of PSA is sustainable. Although Radish sprouts did not grow on mine waste, they could be grown on the waste mixed with paper sludge ash. These results suggest that it is possible to use paper sludge ash for afforestation of a mine waste site.
