ABSTRACT
Acid drainage (AD) is a severe environmental pollution problem and results from the oxidation of pyrite and/or other iron sulfides in coal or other mining waste, ore tailings, and overburden. Throughout the world large sums of money are spent for preventing AD formation at its source or treating acid drainage already formed. Discharge of AD on land and into rivers and lakes poses an instant threat to the biota and ecological balance. Need to prevent AD formation has thus triggered numerous investigations into the mechanisms of pyrite oxidation and its prevention. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book. The book presents a review on solution and surface chemistry of minerals, including acid drainage production and control. It deals with the molecular and surface properties of pyrite and how such properties influence kinetics of pyrite oxidation. The book introduces the reader to some new pyrite microencapsulation technologies for the purpose of controlling pyrite oxidation.
