POTENTIAL FOR METAL REMOVAL IN LOW PH WATERS USING BIOCHAR GEOMEDIA

Due to a long history of mining, abandoned mine sites are prevalent throughout the state of Colorado. Water quality impacts from these abandoned mines is a long-time concern, in part due to the toxic metals that are found in these waters [1]. One potential method of addressing acid mine drainage (AMD) is via sorption of the metals. Given the large surface area to volume ratio and large pore spaces, biochar has potentially promising sorption capabilities. The goal of this paper is to explore the potential of biochar-based geomedia in removing metals from synthetic AMD water during batch experiments. These batch experiments were completed using water at pH values of 2, 4, and 6 with geomedia of 20:80, 40:60, and 60:40 biochar to sand volumetric ratios, respectively. The experiments showed potential for copper removal as both pH and biochar to sand ratios increased, and removal for cadmium and lead removal as pH increased.