Performance of iron aluminium and copper iron bimetallic particles in removal of heavy metals and metalloids

Acid Mine drainage (AMD) often leads to the mobilisation of elements that can be toxic and/or valuable. This study compared the performance of iron-aluminium and copper-iron bimetallic particles in removal of heavy metals, cadmium, arsenic and chromium. These particles were synthesised by a cementation process with four different elemental ratios. Sulphuric acid solutions containing heavy metals were synthesised and treated with the bimetallic particles over 24 hours, with timed samples tested with inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. Copper-Iron bimetallic (~8.76% Cu) had the best performance with complete removal of chromium in five minutes, cadmium 1 hour and arsenic in ten minutes.