Acid mine drainage or AMD are commonly associated with coal mines and are a result of sulfuric acid, produced from catalysis of sulfur containing minerals. Pyrite, FeS2, is the most common such mineral and is biologically catalyzed by bacteria. In the first step, ferrous (`Fe^(2+)`) ion is generated (from pyrite), which is oxidized to ferric ion (`Fe^(3+)`) by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, a bacterium.The ferric ion, thus produced, catalyzes the oxidation of pyrite and speeds up the formation of sulfate ion (which forms sulfuric acid). And thus, we end up with acid mine drainage. A number of other bacteria, such as, Leptospirillum ferriphilum and Acidithiobacillus caldus, are also associated with acid mine drainage formation.
AMD is a major environmental concern in regions containing coal mines and extensive research has been conducted to treat it.
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