암석 또는 광미시료에 포함되어 있는 황철석의 산화에 의해 발생하는 산성배수를 저감하기 위하여 황철석 표면에 철인산염 피막을 형성시킬 수 있다. 첫 단계로 표준황철석을 이용한 실내실험을 통하여 최적의 피막형성 조건을 도출하였다. 피막형성제와 황철석을 24시간 반응시킬 때 최적조건은 $10^{-2}M;KH_2PO_4,;10^{-2}M;H_2O_2$, PH 6으로 결정되었으며, 이 조건으로 황철석을 피막처리한 후 반사현미경, 주사전자현미경, 에너지분산분광기로 피막의 형성을 확인하였다. 피막의 내구성을 검증하기 위하여 온도 pH, 산화제의 농도변화에 따른 인산염의 용출을 조사한 결과, $4^{circ}C$와 $70^{circ}C$에서 온도의 영향은 거의 없었으며, 강산 또는 강알칼리 환경에서 $3.4\%$미만, 산화제의 농도별 조건하에서 $1.0\%$미만의 인산염이 피막으로부터 용출되었다. 실험 결과는 암석 또는 광미시료의 철인산염 피막형성 연구의 기초자료로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.
Acid drainage occurs when sulfide minerals are exposed to an oxidizing environment. The objective of this study was to examine the optimum condition for creating a phosphate coating on standard pyrite surfaces for reduction of pyrite oxidation. The solution of $10^{-2}M;KH_2PO_4,;10^{-2}M;H_2O_2$ was identified as the best phosphate coating agent for the reduction of pyrite oxidation. The formation of an iron phosphate coating on pyrite surfaces was confirmed with ore microscope and scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The temperature did not significantly affect the formation of phosphate coating on the surface of pyrite. However, the phosphate coating was less stable at higher temperature than at lower temperature. The phosphate coating was quitely stable at wide range of pH and $H_2O_2$ concentration. The less than $3.4\%$ of phosphate was dissolved at pH 2.79 and 10.64 and less than $1.0\%$ of phosphate was dissolved at 0.1M $H_2O_2$. On the basis of these results, the phosphate coating can effectively reduce the negative environmental impact of acid rock drainage.
