scholarly journals Metal Removal from Acid Waters by an Endemic Microalga from the Atacama Desert for Water Recovery

Minerals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela Martínez ◽  
Yanett Leyton ◽  
Luis Cisternas ◽  
Carlos Riquelme
Keyword(s):  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Metal Removal ◽  
Atacama Desert ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Mining Activity ◽  
Water Recovery ◽  
Metallic Ions ◽  
Mineral Extraction ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Acid Waters

The environmental problems generated by waste from the mining industry in the mineral extraction for business purposes are known worldwide. The aim of this work is to evaluate the microalga Muriellopsis sp. as a potential remover of metallic ions such as copper (Cu2+), zinc (Zn2+) and iron (Fe2+), pollutants of acid mine drainage (AMD) type waters. For this, the removal of these ions was verified in artificial acid waters with high concentrations of the ions under examination. Furthermore, the removal was evaluated in waters obtained from areas contaminated by mining waste. The results showed that Muriellopsis sp. removed metals in waters with high concentrations after 4–12 h and showed tolerance to pH between 3 and 5. These results allow proposing this species as a potential bioremediator for areas contaminated by mining activity. In this work, some potential alternatives for application in damaged areas are proposed as a decontamination plan and future prevention.

scholarly journals Metal Removal from Acid Waters by an Endemic Microalga from the Atacama Desert for Water Recovery

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela Martínez ◽  
Yanett Leyton ◽  
Luis A. Cisternas ◽  
Carlos Riquelme
Keyword(s):  
Metal Removal ◽  
Atacama Desert ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Mining Waste ◽  
Mining Activity ◽  
Water Recovery ◽  
Metallic Ions ◽  
Mineral Extraction ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Acid Waters

The environmental problems generated by waste from the mining industry in the mineral extraction for business purposes are known worldwide. The aim of this work is to evaluate the microalga Muriellopsis sp. as a potential remover of metallic ions such as copper (Cu+2), zinc (Zn+2) and iron (Fe+2), pollutants of AMD type waters. For this, the removal of these ions was verified in artificial acid waters with high concentrations of the ions under examination. As well as, the removal was evaluated in waters obtained from areas contaminated by mining waste. The results showed that Muriellopsis sp. removed metals in waters with high concentrations after 4 to 12 hours and showed tolerance to pH between 3 to 5. These results allow proposing this species as a potential bioremediator for areas contaminated by mining activity. In this work, some potential alternatives for application in damaged areas are proposed as a decontamination plan and future prevention.

scholarly journals Hydrogeochemical Behavior of Reclaimed Highly Reactive Tailings, Part 1: Characterization of Reclamation Materials

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Kalonji-Kabambi ◽  
Bruno Bussière ◽  
Isabelle Demers
Keyword(s):  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Waste ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Mine Wastes ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Neutralizing Potential ◽  
Sulfide Tailings

The production of solid mine wastes is an integral part of the extraction and metallurgical processing of ores. The reclamation of highly reactive mine waste, with low neutralizing potential, is still a significant challenge for the mining industry, particularly when natural soils are not available close to the site. Some solid mine wastes present interesting hydro-geotechnical properties which can be taken advantage of, particularly for being used in reclamation covers to control acid mine drainage. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the use of mining materials (i.e., tailings and waste rock) in a cover with capillary barrier effects (CCBE) to prevent acid mine drainage (AMD) from highly reactive tailings. The first part of the project reproduced in this article involves context and laboratory validation of mining materials as suitable for a CCBE, while the companion paper reports laboratory and field results of cover systems made with mining materials. The main conclusions of the Part 1 of this study were that the materials studied (low sulfide tailings and waste rocks) had the appropriate geochemical and hydrogeological properties for use as cover materials in a CCBE. Results also showed that the cover mining materials are not acid-generating and that the LaRonde tailings are highly reactive with pH close to 2, with high concentrations of metals and sulfates.

scholarly journals Caractérisation Des Boues De Sucrerie Et Des Argiles Pour La Neutralisation Des Résidus Miniers Acides De La Mine De Kettara (Jebilet Centrales, Maroc)

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (15) ◽  
pp. 321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youssef Zerhouni ◽  
Saida Alikouss ◽  
Najib Saber ◽  
Samiha Nfissi ◽  
Ghalem Zahour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Atmospheric Oxygen ◽  
Physicochemical Characterization ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Mining Site ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Main Component ◽  
The City

The minerals in the tailings, subject to the action of water and atmospheric oxygen, can generate Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). The latter is considered the most important environmental issue facing the mining industry. Its environmental impacts include the destruction of the flora and fauna in infected rivers and contamination of groundwater. The abandoned mine site Kettara, located about 32 km northwest of Marrakech (Morocco), chosen as a pilot site for this study, more than 3 million tons of tailings stored at ground level without any concern for their environmental consequences. These solid residues, with high concentrations of heavy metals (As, Pb, Fe, Cu ...), produce leachate very acidic (pH <2.9) may contaminate the water resources of the region. To mitigate the DMA phenomenon in this mining site, different protocols have been proposed using candy sludge (Mud Pulp Sweets: MPS), rich in carbonates from the Moroccan Sugar Company Unit (COSUMAR) and red clays (Clays: CLY) of the city of Safi. Physicochemical characterization and mineralogical of these two materials was performed an provided promising results regarding the effectiveness of the use of alkaline materials in the stabilization of tailings Kettara. Indeed, these starting materials are provided with a net neutralizing power which is of the order of 878.5 kg CaCO3 / t for MPS and 299 kg CaCO3 / t for CLY. The valuation of MPS and CLY, as a main component of an alkaline amendment, is likely to significantly reduce the effects of DMA in this semiarid climate mine.

scholarly journals The Metal And Sulphate Removal From Mine Drainage Waters By Biological-Chemical Ways

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-95
Author(s):  
Jana Jenčárová ◽  
Alena Luptáková
Keyword(s):  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
Chemical Processes ◽  
Sulphide Minerals ◽  
Sulphate Removal ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Pollution Removal ◽  
Reducing Bacteria ◽  
Drainage Waters

Abstract Mine drainage waters are often characterized by high concentrations of sulphates and metals as a consequence of the mining industry of sulphide minerals. The aims of this work are to prove some biological-chemical processes utilization for the mine drainage water treatment. The studied principles of contamination elimination from these waters include sulphate reduction and metal bioprecipitation by the application of sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Other studied process was metal sorption by prepared biogenic sorbent. Mine drainage waters from Slovak localities Banská Štiavnica and Smolník were used to the pollution removal examination. In Banská Štiavnica water, sulphates decreased below the legislative limit. The elimination of zinc by sorption experiments achieved 84 % and 65 %, respectively.

scholarly journals Hydrochemical characterization and evaluation of the impact of AMD processes on river basin areas in the Iberian Pyrite Belt

Water Policy ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 146-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Grande ◽  
M. L. de la Torre ◽  
M. Santisteban ◽  
J. C. Fortes
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Iberian Pyrite Belt ◽  
Mining Activity ◽  
Ph Values ◽  
South West ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Hydrographic Network

Abstract The hydrographic network in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) (south-west Europe) is intensively affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) processes. This represents a unique worldwide scenario of extractive mining activity for more than 4,000 years. In order to be able to achieve possible restorations, it is necessary to reduce the scale of possible actions for future environmental improvements, at the river basin level. Therefore, the delineation of watersheds and subwatersheds in the IPB has been carried out, as well as the definition of the degree of impact by AMD processes in these basins in the dry season and in the rainy season. The results show that all basins are affected by AMD processes during the entire hydrological year, with pH values between 2 and 3, for most cases, and high concentrations of sulfates, metals and arsenic.

scholarly journals Diversity of Microorganisms in Fe-As-Rich Acid Mine Drainage Waters of Carnoulès, France

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 551-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Bruneel ◽  
R. Duran ◽  
C. Casiot ◽  
F. Elbaz-Poulichet ◽  
J.-C. Personné
Keyword(s):  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Fragment Length Polymorphism ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Gallionella Ferruginea ◽  
Natural Remediation ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Acid Waters

ABSTRACT The acid waters (pH 2.7 to 3.4) originating from the Carnoulès mine tailings contain high concentrations of dissolved arsenic (80 to 350 mg · liter−1), iron (750 to 2,700 mg · liter−1), and sulfate (2,000 to 7,500 mg · liter−1). During the first 30 m of downflow in Reigous creek issuing from the mine tailings, 20 to 60% of the dissolved arsenic is removed by coprecipitation with Fe(III). The microbial communities along the creek have been characterized using terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and 16S rRNA gene library analyses. The results indicate a low bacterial diversity in comparison with unpolluted water. Eighty percent of the sequences obtained are related to sequences from uncultured, newly described organisms or recently associated with acid mine drainage. As expected owing to the water chemistry, the sequences recovered are mainly related to bacteria involved in the geochemical Fe and S cycles. Among them, sequences related to uncultured TrefC4 affiliated with Gallionella ferruginea, a neutrophilic Fe-oxidizing bacterium, are dominant. The description of the bacterial community structure and its dynamics lead to a better understanding of the natural remediation processes occurring at this site.

scholarly journals Use of Multi-Anionic Sodium Tripolyphosphate to Enhance Dispersion of Concentrated Kaolin Slurries in Seawater

Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1085
Author(s):  
Williams Leiva ◽  
Norman Toro ◽  
Pedro Robles ◽  
Edelmira Gálvez ◽  
Ricardo Ivan Jeldres
Keyword(s):  
Rheological Properties ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Sodium Tripolyphosphate ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Chord Length ◽  
Water Recovery ◽  
Reflectance Measurement ◽  
Anionic Charge ◽  
Free Environment ◽  
The Impact

This research aims to analyze the impact of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) as a rheological modifier of concentrated kaolin slurries in seawater at pH 8, which is characteristic of copper sulfide processing operations. The dispersion phenomenon was analyzed through chord length measurements using the focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) technique, complementing size distributions in unweighted and square-weighted modes. The reduction of the rheological properties was significant, decreasing from 231 Pa in a reagent-free environment to 80 Pa after the application of STPP. A frequency sweep in a linear viscoelastic regime indicated that by applying a characteristic dosage of 0.53 kg/t of STPP, the pulp before yielding increases its phase angle, which increases its liquid-like character. Measurements of the chord length verified the dispersion of particles, which showed an apparent increase in the proportion of fine particles and a reduction of the coarser aggregates when STPP was applied. Measurements of the zeta potential suggested that the high anionic charge of the reagent (pentavalent) increases the electrostatic repulsions between particles, overcoming the effect of cations in seawater. The results are relevant for the mining industry, especially when the deposits have high contents of complex gangues, such as clays, that increase the rheological properties. This increases the energy costs and water consumption needed for pumping the tailings from thickeners to the tailing storages facilities. The strategies that allow for the improvement of the fluidity and deformation of the tailings generate slack in order to maximize water recovery in the thickening stages.

scholarly journals Spatial Variation of Water Chemistry in Aries River Catchment Western Romania

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 6592
Author(s):  
Ana Moldovan ◽  
Maria-Alexandra Hoaghia ◽  
Anamaria Iulia Török ◽  
Marius Roman ◽  
Ionut Cornel Mirea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Chemistry ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Pollution Indices ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
River Catchment ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
The Impact

This study aims to investigate the quality and vulnerability of surface water (Aries River catchment) in order to identify the impact of past mining activities. For this purpose, the pollution and water quality indices, Piper and Durov plots, as well vulnerability modeling maps were used. The obtained results indicate that the water samples were contaminated with As, Fe, Mn, Pb and have relatively high concentrations of SO42−, HCO3−, TDS, Ca, K, Mg and high values for the electrical conductivity. Possible sources of the high content of chemicals could be the natural processes or the inputs of the mine drainage. Generally, according to the pollution indices, which were correlated to high concentrations of heavy metals, especially with Pb, Fe and Mn, the water samples were characterized by heavy metals pollution. The water quality index classified the studied water samples into five different classes of quality, namely: unsuitable for drinking, poor, medium, good and excellent quality. Similarly, medium, high and very high vulnerability classes were observed. The Durov and Piper plots classified the waters into Mg-HCO3− and Ca-Cl− types. The past and present mining activities clearly change the water chemistry and alter the quality of the Aries River, with the water requiring specific treatments before use.

scholarly journals Understanding the biogeochemical mechanisms of metal removal from acid mine drainage with a subsurface limestone bed at the Motokura Mine, Japan

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigeshi Fuchida ◽  
Kohei Suzuki ◽  
Tatsuya Kato ◽  
Masakazu Kadokura ◽  
Chiharu Tokoro
Keyword(s):  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Metal Removal ◽  
Theoretical Calculations ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Treatment Technique ◽  
Manganese Compound ◽  
Edge Structure ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Copper Zinc

AbstractSubsurface limestone beds (SLBs) are used as a passive treatment technique to remove toxic metals from acid mine drainage (AMD). In this study, we investigated the mechanisms and thermodynamics of metal (manganese, copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead) precipitation in the SLB installed at the Motokura Mine. Field surveys in 2017 and 2018 showed that the pH of the SLB influent (initially 5–6) increased to approximately 8 in the drain between 24 and 45 m from the inlet. This increase was caused by limestone dissolution and resulted in the precipitation of hydroxides and/or carbonates of copper, zinc, and lead, as expected from theoretical calculations. Manganese and cadmium were removed within a pH range of approximately 7–8, which was lower than the pH at which they normally precipitate as hydroxides (pH 9–10). X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis of the sediment indicated that δ-MnO2, which has a high cation-exchange capacity, was the predominant tetravalent manganese compound in the SLB rather than trivalent compound (MnOOH). Biological analysis indicates that microorganism activity of the manganese-oxidizing bacteria in the SLB provided an opportunity for δ-MnO2 formation, after which cadmium was removed by surface complexation with MnO2 (≡ MnOH0 + Cd2+  ⇄  ≡ MnOCd+  +  H+). These findings show that biological agents contributed to the precipitation of manganese and cadmium in the SLB, and suggest that their utilization could enhance the removal performance of the SLB.

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