Neutralization of synthetic acid mine drainage in the development of soil liming strategies for irrigation

Hence, the aim of this study is the development of soil liming strategies for irrigation with acid mine drainage. This has been investigated by undertaking titrations to quantify the additional acidity generated by Fe, Al, and Mn present in AMD and how this buffers the neutralising potential of hydrated lime.

The hypothesis states that iron is expected to have the most significant buffering influence on the neutralising potential of hydrated lime compared to aluminium and manganese as its oxidation, hydrolysis and precipitation is strongly acidifying. This hypothesis was accepted. It was demonstrated that Fe has the potential to buffer the neutralisation potential of hydrated lime because of two acid generating influences, namely the ferric and ferrous iron buffers with each of them influencing the potential of hydrated lime below a neutral condition.