The Formation of Schwertmannite and Its Influence on Mine Environment

Schwertmannite (Sch) is known to be an effective scavenger of arsenic (As) discovered in recent years due to its strong binding affinity for toxic As species, which mainly exists in the acid mine drainage (AMD) rich in Fe and S. However, the evolution and adsorption of schwertmannite under As-bearing AMD conditions are poorly understood. It has an important influence on the adsorption of heavy metal elements in the environment, which makes it hopeful to become an efficient and low-cost biomaterial in the future sewage treatment. This paper introduces the structure, formation process, and interaction of schwertmannite with heavy metal elements and discusses its application prospects in sewage treatment.