Sulfate Removal Technology Development
Principal Investigator: Dr. Larry Twidwell
ltwidwell@mtech.edu
Sulfate removal by the two innovative technologies, compound precipitation and electrochemical reduction of sulfate on metallic surfaces, were investigated. The concept for the compound precipitation technology is to sequester sulfate in a solid phase product. Electrochemical reduction is referred to cementation in the metallurgy industry and this commonly used method utilizes reductants for removing aqueous metal species from solution. This project attempted to reduce aqueous sulfate concentrations to250 mg/L. The compound precipitation process was capable of reducing sulfate to the 250 mg/L level. Sulfate removal by compound precipitation was found to be a function of aluminum addition as sodium aluminate, calcium addition as hydrated lime, residence time, and interactive combinations of primary variables. Attempts at sulfate removal by electrochemical reduction were not successful. This was in spite of the fact that thermodynamic calculations predict that sulfate should be reduced by the potentials established in a solution by the presence of elemental iron.
MWTP Activity IV, Project 23
Final Report
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