The Electrocoagulation for Acid Mine Drainage Treatment : Optimization of Mn Removal in Air Laya Coal Mine, Indonesia

M Ade Dwi Maesandi; Restu Juniah; Muhammad Rendana; Maulana Yusuf; Taufik Toha

Authors

M Ade Dwi Maesandi Master Program of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sriwijaya, Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia
Restu Juniah Master Program of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sriwijaya, Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia
Muhammad Rendana Graduate Program of Environmental Science, Graduate School, Universitas Sriwijaya, Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia
Maulana Yusuf Master Program of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sriwijaya, Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia
Taufik Toha Master Program of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sriwijaya, Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia

Keywords:

Acid Mine Drainage, Electrocoagulation, Manganese Removal, Fe–Al Electrodes, Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

Acid mine drainage (AMD) poses a significant environmental challenge in coal mining due to its low pH and high dissolved metal concentrations, particularly manganese (Mn), which is difficult to remove using conventional methods. This study evaluates electrocoagulation (EC) performance in reducing Mn concentrations in AMD using iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), and combined Fe–Al electrodes. Laboratory experiments were conducted using AMD samples from the Air Laya coal mining area, Indonesia, with initial Mn concentrations of 5.89–6.68 mg/L, exceeding the regulatory limit of 4 mg/L. Results show that EC effectively reduces Mn to 1.07 mg/L (Fe), 1.40 mg/L (Al), and 0.91 mg/L (Fe–Al), achieving removal efficiencies of 82.78%, 77.94%, and 85.62%, respectively. The Fe–Al combination achieved the highest efficiency and consistently met water quality standards. Operational costs for Fe, Al, and Fe–Al electrodes were Rp312,240/m³, Rp316,550/m³, and Rp313,100/m³, respectively, with Fe–Al showing the most favourable cost-to-efficiency ratio. These findings indicate that electrocoagulation is an effective and economically viable approach for Mn removal in AMD treatment, with the Fe–Al combination offering an optimal balance between technical performance and operational cost for practical implementation in coal mining wastewater management.

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