Remediation potential of mining, agro-industrial, and urban wastes against acid mine drainage

Acid mine drainage (AMD) poses serious consequences for human health and ecosystems. Novel strategies for its treatment involve the use of wastes. This paper evaluates the remediation potential of wastes from urban, mining and agro-industrial activities to address acidity and high concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTE) in AMD. Samples of these waste products were spiked with an artificially prepared AMD, then pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and PTE concentrations in the leachates were measured. The artificial AMD obtained through oxidation of Aznalcóllar’s tailing showed an ultra-acid character (pH − 2.89 ± 0.03) and extreme high electrical conductivity (EC − 3.76 ± 0.14 dS m(−1)). Moreover, most PTE were above maximum regulatory levels in natural and irrigation waters. Wastes studied had a very high acid neutralising capacity, as well as a strong capacity to immobilise PTE. Inorganic wastes, together with vermicompost from pruning, reduced most PTE concentrations by over 95%, while organic wastes retained between 50 and 95%. Thus, a wide range of urban, mining, and agro-industrial wastes have a high potential to be used in the treatment of AMD. This study provides valuable input for the development of new eco-technologies based on the combination of wastes (eg. Technosols, permeable reactive barriers) to remediate degraded environments.