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2025 Vol.30, Issue 1 Preview Page
Assessment on Zn Treatment Characteristics of Alum Sludge-based Adsorbent

알럼 슬러지 기반 흡착제의 Zn 처리 특성 평가

Dae-Gyu Im1
,
Duk-Min Kim2*
,
Hye-Lim Kwon2
,
Ki-Rim Lee2
,
Joon-Hak Lee3
,
Seong-Taek Yun1
임대규 1
,
김덕민 2*
,
권혜림 2
,
이기림 2
,
이준학 3
,
윤성택 1
1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
2Department of New Energy and Mining Engineering, Sangji University, Wonju 26339, Republic of Korea
3Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation (KOMIR), Wonju 26464, Republic of Korea
1고려대학교 지구환경과학과
2상지대학교 신에너지·자원공학과
3한국광해광업공단
*Corresponding Author
28 February 2025. pp. 20-29
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Abstract

Zinc present in mine drainage, wastewater, and contaminated groundwater is difficult to treat using conventional passive treatment technologies. This study evaluated an alum sludge-based adsorbent through column and batch experiments, including adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and pH edge analysis. Over 341 days, the column experiment reduced Zn concentrations (4.6 – 6.4 mg/L) to below 1 mg/L within a 4-hour residence time, meeting effluent standards. The breakthrough point was observed at approximately 1,432 bed volumes, corresponding to 9 months of operation. The adsorbent increased pH, likely due to the adsorption of H+ ions, and facilitated the precipitation of Zn as hydroxides on its surface. Even if the surface precipitation effect was excluded, the maximum adsorption capacity was calculated to be 5.5 mg/g. Therefore, this adsorbent, recycled from alum sludge, is expected to efficiently treat Zn in adsorption reactors and permeable reactive barriers.

Keywords
Zinc removal
Adsorption kinetics
Breakthrough point
pH adsorption edge
Surface precipitation
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국지하수토양환경학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
  • Journal Title(Ko) :지하수토양환경
  • Volume : 30
  • No :1
  • Pages :20-29
  • Received Date : 2025-01-05
  • Revised Date : 2025-01-12
  • Accepted Date : 2025-01-31
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7857/JSGE.2025.30.1.020
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