Abstract
A 20 month long column study was conducted to evaluate the surface application of waste glycerol (WG) to reduce release of acid mine drainage constituents from mine tailings. Beneficial characteristics of the WG include high aqueous solubility, high organic content, and high alkalinity. Four columns were packed with fine-grained sulfide rich tailings and incubated in the field under ambient temperature and precipitation conditions. In the two replicate untreated control columns, diffusion of oxygen into the tailings resulted in large increases in dissolved iron, sulfate, manganese, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, and hot acidity with an associated drop in pH. In the two replicate treated columns, WG was blended into the top 0.18 m of tailings 7 months after the columns were established, resulting in large reductions in iron, sulfate, hot acidity, aluminum, copper, and manganese. Observed pollutant reductions resulted from a combination of processes including: (a) neutralization of acidity by the KOH present in the WG (b) reduction of SO4 to H2S with subsequent precipitation of dissolved metals, and potentially (c) consumption of oxygen, slowing oxidation of the tailings.
Zusammenfassung
Ein 20-monatiger Säulenversuch wurde durchgeführt, um festzustellen, ob der Einbau von Glyzerinabfällen im oberflächlichen Bereich von Rückstandshalden eine Verminderung des Sauerwasseraustrages bewirkt. Günstige Eigenschaften des Glyzerinabfalls sind unter anderem: hohe Wasserlöslichkeit, hoher Anteil an organischen Verbindungen und hohe Alkalinität. Vier Säulen wurden mit feinkörnigen, sulfidreichen Aufbereitungsrückständen gefüllt und im Gelände unter natürlichen Temperatur- und Niederschlagsbedingungen eingebaut. In den zwei unbehandelten Säulen wurde aufgrund des Sauerstoffeintrags in die Aufbereitungsrückstände ein starker Anstieg an gelöstem Eisen, Sulfat, Mangan, Magnesium, Aluminium, Zink, und der Gesamtazidität beobachtet, was mit einem Absinken des pH Wertes einherging. In den zwei behandelten Säulen wurden die Glyzerinabfälle sieben Monate nach Aufbau der Säulen den oberen 18 cm der Aufbereitungsrückstände beigemischt. Dies hatte eine starke Erniedrigung der Konzentrationen von Eisen, Sulfat, Gesamtazidität, Aluminium, Kupfer und Mangan zur Folge. Die beobachtete Schadstoffverminderung ist unter anderem auf eine Kombination der folgenden Prozessen zurückzuführen: (a) Neutralisierung der Azidität durch KOH in Glyzerinabfällen, (b) Reduktion von SO4 zu H2S mit anschließender Ausfällung der gelösten Metalle und möglicherweise (c) Verbrauch von Sauerstoff und dadurch Verlangsamung der Oxidation der Aufbereitungsrückstände.
Resumen
Se realizó un estudio de 20 meses en una columna para evaluar la aplicación en superficie de residuos de glicerol (WG) para reducir la generación de drenaje ácido de minas (AMD) desde colas de minas. Entre las características benéficas de WG incluyen la alta solubilidad en agua, alto contenido orgánico y alta alcalinidad. Se rellenaron cuatro columnas con finos de colas ricas en sulfuros y luego se incubaron en el campo a temperatura ambiente y bajo condiciones de precipitación. En las dos columnas control, no tratadas, la difusión de oxígeno en las colas resultó en incrementos importantes en el hierro disuelto, sulfato, manganeso, magnesio, aluminio, cinc y acidez con una caída en el valor del pH. En las dos columnas tratadas, WG fue agregado en los primeros 0,18 m de las escombreras siete meses después que las columnas se estabilizaran, resultando en significativas reducciones de hierro, sulfato, acidez, aluminio, cobre y manganeso. Las reducciones observadas se deben probablemente a una combinación de procesos que incluyen: (a) neutralización de acidez por el KOH presente en el WG (b) reducción de SO42- a H2S con la subsecuente precipitación de los metales disueltos y, potencialmente, (c) consumo de oxígeno, lentificando la oxidación de las colas.
抽象
通过20个月的柱体试验,本文研究了废甘油(WG)减少尾矿酸性矿山废水(AMD)产生的作用。废甘油(WG)的有利特性包括高水溶性、高有机质含量和高碱度。四个试验圆柱充填含硫化物细粒尾矿,并在野外温度和降雨条件下培养。在两个相同的、未经甘油处理的对照试验柱体中,氧气扩散作用使柱体内溶液的溶解性铁、硫酸盐、锰、镁、铝、锌和热酸含量大幅增加,PH值降低。在两个相同的、经甘油处理的柱中,试验柱体顶部0.18m厚尾矿与废甘油充分混合,处理后柱体溶液中铁、硫酸盐、热酸度、铝、铜和锰含量大幅减少。柱体溶液污染物减少的主要原因是由以下过程综合作用引起的:(a)废甘油中氢氧化钾的酸中和作用;(b)硫酸根离子还原为硫化氢,并伴随溶解金属离子的顺序沉淀;(c)氧消耗减缓了尾矿的氧化作用.
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We thank the United Soybean Board and US Environmental Protection Agency for the financial and technical support provided for this project.
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Behrooz, M., Borden, R.C. Waste Glycerol Addition to Reduce AMD Production in Unsaturated Mine Tailings. Mine Water Environ 31, 161–171 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-012-0180-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-012-0180-x