Sustainable acid mine drainage wastewater remediation: a comprehensive review and bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Global wastewater generation is over 500 million gallons per day. Presently, these wastewaters, especially acid mine drainage (AMD), are underutilized resources with the potential for utilizing their chemical fractions and water components in economically and environmentally friendly processes, such as irrigation and energy generation. The common traditional method of AMD management is its environmentally unfriendly disposal, which often results in environmental pollution. Therefore, in this review, a quantitative, qualitative, bibliometric and systematic approach to examining experimental and peer-reviewed articles on AMD wastewater generation, properties, common pollutants, and treatment methods was conducted. Moreover, this review assesses the present remediation techniques implemented in AMD management. Finally, the most current challenges and future outlook on AMD treatment are highlighted, and valuable insights as well as recommendations are provided for actions that need to be taken to improve present AMD wastewater management, treatment, reutilization, and resource sustainability efforts.