Long-Term Performance Evaluation of Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Technologies: A Systematic Literature Review

Marwita Marwita; Tedy Agung  Cahyadi; Nurkhamim Nurkhamim

doi:10.34306/itsdi.v8i1.744

Authors

Marwita Marwita Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Yogyakarta
Tedy Agung Cahyadi Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Yogyakarta
Nurkhamim Nurkhamim Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Yogyakarta https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5860-6158

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34306/itsdi.v8i1.744

Keywords:

Acid Mine Drainage, Treatment Technologies, Long-term Performance, Systematic Literature Review, Environmental Remediation

Abstract

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) remains a persistent environmental challenge due to its low pH and high concentrations of dissolved metals. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term performance of AMD treatment technologies through a systematic literature review. Following the PRISMA framework, 29 peer-reviewed studies published between January 2022 and March 2026 were analyzed from Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The studies were classified into active, passive, hybrid/emerging, and biological treatment technologies. Active treatment provided rapid pH correction and high metal removal efficiency but was constrained by sludge generation, reagent consumption, and operational costs. Passive systems required less operational input but experienced performance deterioration associated with substrate depletion, clogging, and inconsistent contaminant removal. Hybrid/emerging technologies demonstrated promising potential for improving treatment efficiency and resource recovery; however, long-term field validation remains limited. Biological technologies also showed potential for sulfate reduction and metal recovery, although their long-term applicability remains constrained by substrate requirements and environmental sensitivity. From a sustainable-development perspective, AMD treatment is directly relevant to SDG 6, particularly Targets 6.3 and 6.6, and is also connected to SDG 12.2 on sustainable resource use and SDG 13.1–13.2 on climate resilience and planning. Overall, long-term AMD treatment assessment should integrate technical performance, operational sustainability, environmental recovery, field-scale validation, resource recovery, and measurable contributions to relevant SDG targets.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

B. Nguegang and A. A. Ambushe, “Sustainable acid mine drainage treatment: A comprehensive review of passive, combined, and emerging technologies,” Environmental Engineering Research, vol. 30, no. 4, 2025.

S. Azizi, B. Nguegang, M. Maaza, T. Mokrani, A. A. Ambushe, M. P. Seopela, and A. T. Msagati, “Acid mine drainage treatment and metals recovery by means of selective precipitation using magnesium oxide (mgo): An experimental study,” Groundwater for Sustainable Development, vol. 25, p. 101151, 2024.

Y. Cheong, D.-W. Cho, D.-K. Lee, J.-Y. Jang, and H. Park, “Evaluation of precipitate generation due to neutralization of lime in acid mine drainage from daedeok coal mine,” Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers, pp. 275–283, 2024.

B. O. Otunola and P. Mhangara, “Global advancements in the management and treatment of acid mine drainage,” Applied Water Science, vol. 14, p. 204, 2024.

A. K. Mosai, G. Ndlovu, and H. Tutu, “Improving acid mine drainage treatment by combining treatment technologies: A review,” Science of the Total Environment, vol. 919, p. 170806, 2024.

R. L. Annastasya and H. Siregar, “Systematic literature review of the development and research directions of technology innovation-based technopreneurship,” Jurnal Techno Nusa Mandiri, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 58–65, 2026.

Y. H. Dulanlebit, H. Hernani, L. Liliasari, M. B. Amran, and G. A. Pangilinan, “Technopreneurship and market feasibility of modified carrageenan hydrogel for industrial heavy metal remediation,” Aptisi Transactions on Technopreneurship (ATT), vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 199–210, 2026.

Z. Li, F. Sun, W. Jiang, X. Li, J. Jiang, F. Jin et al., “Bibliometric analysis of trends and research progress in acid mine drainage remediation from 1990 to 2023,” Water, vol. 16, no. 13, p. 1826, 2024.

Y. Wang, C. Wang, R. Feng, Y. Li, Z. Zhang, and S. Guo, “A review of passive acid mine drainage treatment by prb and lpb: From design, testing, to construction,” Environmental Research, vol. 251, p. 118545, 2024.

J. Pocaan et al., “A mixed media approach using locally available neutralizing materials for the passive treatment of acid mine drainage,” Heliyon, vol. 11, p. e41984, 2025.

D. Cun et al., “High acidity notably influences acid mine drainage treatment performance in constructed wetlands packed with composite organic substrates by affecting both abiotic and biotic routes,” Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 496, p. 153836, 2024.

D. Tribuana, U. Narimawati, and M. Y. Syafei, “A multi-group structural analysis of digital banking adoption determinants across generational cohorts in indonesia,” Aptisi Transactions on Technopreneurship (ATT), vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 37–50, 2026.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, “Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,” 2026.

“Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts,” 2026.

Y. G. Wibowo et al., “Efficient remediation of acid mine drainage through sustainable and economical biochar-cao composite derived from solid waste,” Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2024.

J. P. Marques and V. G. S. Rodrigues, “A systematic literature review of treatment approaches with sulfate-reducing bacteria for acid mine drainage,” Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, vol. 236, no. 5, p. 271, 2025.

E. C. Ngerem, I. A. Sanusi, T. Dalu, and T. N. Suinyuy, “Sustainable acid mine drainage wastewater remediation: A comprehensive review and bibliometric analysis,” Environmental Science: Advances, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 681–710, 2026.

T. Prasetia, L. Meria, K. Sulastriningsih, and N. Liam, “The impact of gamification on retail investor behavior: A behavioral finance perspective,” IAIC Transactions on Sustainable Digital Innovation (ITSDI), vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 208–215, 2026.

V. Dube, Z. Phiri, A. T. Kuvarega, B. B. Mamba, and L. A. de Kock, “Exploring acid mine drainage treatment through adsorption: A bibliometric analysis,” Environmental Science and Pollution Research, vol. 31, no. 50, pp. 59 659–59 680, 2024.

R. Kurniaji, N. Azizah, M. Rakhmansyah, U. Rahardja, and A. Ismail, “Business intelligence-based risk analysis approach to prevent accidents in overhead crane operations,” IAIC Transactions on Sustainable Digital Innovation (ITSDI), vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 12–23, 2026.

Y. G. Wibowo, H. Safitri, I. B. I. Malik, Sudibyo, and S. Priyanto, “Alternative low-cost treatment for real acid mine drainage: Performance, bioaccumulation, translocation, economic, post-harvest, and bibliometric analyses,” Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 22, p. 15404, 2022.

U. Rahardja, R. U. Wijayanti, Y. Christy, and G. Fransiso, “A qualitative case study on fintech-driven modernization of capital market infrastructure,” IAIC Transactions on Sustainable Digital Innovation (ITSDI), vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 198–207, 2026.

C. Yin, Y. Zhang, Y. Tao, and X. Zhu, “Competitive adsorption behavior and adsorption mechanism of limestone and activated carbon in polymetallic acid mine water treatment,” Scientific Reports, vol. 14, 2024.

W. Li, J. Wang, Z. Zhan, J. Luo, D. Zhou, and Y. Lei, “Extraction of valuable metals from acid mine drainage by an electrochemically activated limestone system,” Nature Communications, vol. 16, 2025.

Y. Jiang and J. Di, “Study on the joint treatment of acidic mine wastewater by sulfate reducing bacteria and sulfide oxidizing bacteria under different systems,” Process Safety and Environmental Protection, vol. 198, p. 107078, 2025.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, “Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns,” 2026.

J. Baloyi, N. Ramdhani, R. Mbhele, and G. Simate, “Acid mine drainage from gold mining in south africa: Remediation, reuse, and resource recovery,” Mine Water and the Environment, vol. 43, pp. 418–430, 2024.

“Removal of heavy metals from mine water using a hybrid electrocoagulation-ceramic membrane filtration process,” Desalination and Water Treatment, vol. 320, p. 100730, 2024.

J. Chen, M. Chen, W. Yang, L. Gan, G. Owens, and Z. Chen, “Mathematical modeling of in situ synthesis of metal sulfides by sulfate-reducing bacteria and treatment of acidic mine drainage,” Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 522, p. 167683, 2025.