Removal of aqueous phosphate, organic compounds, and organic phosphates using iron oxide produced from abandoned coal mine drainage

CHED 1126

Stefan O. Ochiana, stefan.ochiana@email.stvincent.edu and Daryle Fish, dfish@email.stvincent.edu. Department of Chemistry, Saint Vincent College, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Box 571, Latrobe, PA 15650
This study will explore the feasibility of utilizing iron oxide produced from abandoned coal mine drainage from one discharge in western Pennsylvania to sequester phosphate, organic phosphates and aromatic compounds in laboratory experiments. The iron oxide is expected to adsorb different amounts of phosphate, organic phosphates and aromatic compounds since they have different binding affinities to iron oxide. The impact of the pH on the amount of phosphate, organic phosphate and organic compounds that can be adsorbed by iron oxide is a critical factor that shall be investigated. To determine how efficient iron oxide is at removing contaminants, the amount of iron oxide concentration will be varied to determine binding affinities.