Contaminant removal from acidic mine pit water via in situ hydrotalcite formation

Remediation of 56 ML of acidic, contaminant-laden Baal Gammon mine pit water was undertaken using in situ hydrotalcite formation. The pit water composition was modified via the addition of MgCl₂·6H₂O to form a 2.5:1 M²⁺:M³⁺ metal ion ratio followed by the addition of NaOH to increase the pH 10 to induce spontaneous hydrotalcite precipitation. As a result of the in situ hydrotalcite precipitation a broad spectrum of elements of environmental concern including Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, In, Mn, Mo, Ni, V and Zn were removed from solution. Significantly, an ore grade hydrotalcite precipitate containing Cu (8.0 ± 1.0%) and Zn (3.9 ± 0.5%) was produced directly from the mine pit water column allowing for potential recovery of valuable metals to offset remediation costs. The final water quality produced after in situ remediation was of a simple Na–Cl–SO₄ type.