Initial pH and K+ concentrations jointly determine the types of biogenic ferric hydroxysulfate minerals and their effect on adsorption removal of Cr(VI) in simulated acid mine drainage.

It is of practical significance to promote the transformation of Fe in acid mine drainage (AMD) into ferric hydroxysulfate minerals with strong ability to remove heavy metals or metalloids. To investigate the types of biogenic ferric hydroxysulfate minerals generated in AMD by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans), different pH and K+ concentrations are tested for the formation of precipitates in media containing 160 mmol/L Fe2+. The Cr(VI) removal efficiencies of ferric hydroxysulfate minerals in AMD with different acidities are also compared. Results indicate that the mineralizing abilities of the initial pH levels (pH 3.0 > pH 2.5 > pH 2.0) and K+ concentrations (53.3 mmol/L > 3.2 mmol/L ≈ 0.8 mmol/L) differ, with cumulative Fe precipitation efficiencies of 58.7%, 58.0%, and 44.2% (K+ = 53.3 mmol/L), and 58.7%, 29.9%, and 29.6% (pH 3.0) after 96 h of A. ferrooxidans incubation, respectively. X-ray diffraction indicates that K-jarosites are formed in the treatments n(Fe)/n(K) = 0.1 and 3 at pH 2.0-3.0, while only schwertmannite is generated in a system of pH 3.0 and n(Fe)/n(K) = 200. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals that HCrO4 - may be adsorbed as an inner-sphere complex on schwertmannite when the AMD pH is 3.0.