Inhibition of acid mine drainage and immobilization of heavy metals from copper flotation tailings using a marble cutting waste

Tozsin G.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MINERALS METALLURGY AND MATERIALS, cilt.23, sa.1, ss.1-6, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 23 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2016
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s12613-016-1204-5
  • Dergi Adı: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MINERALS METALLURGY AND MATERIALS
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-6
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: acid mine drainage, heavy metals, copper ore treatment, tailings, marble, immobilization, BY-PRODUCTS, PH, LIMESTONE, SULFATE, ZN, PB, CU
  • Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Acid mine drainage (AMD) with high concentrations of sulfates and metals is generated by the oxidation of sulfide bearing wastes. CaCO3-rich marble cutting waste is a residual material produced by the cutting and polishing of marble stone. In this study, the feasibility of using the marble cutting waste as an acid-neutralizing agent to inhibit AMD and immobilize heavy metals from copper flotation tailings (sulfide-bearing wastes) was investigated. Continuous-stirring shake-flask tests were conducted for 40 d, and the pH value, sulfate content, and dissolved metal content of the leachate were analyzed every 10 d to determine the effectiveness of the marble cutting waste as an acid neutralizer. For comparison, CaCO3 was also used as a neutralizing agent. The average pH value of the leachate was 2.1 at the beginning of the experiment (t = 0). In the experiment employing the marble cutting waste, the pH value of the leachate changed from 6.5 to 7.8, and the sulfate and iron concentrations decreased from 4558 to 838 mg/L and from 536 to 0.01 mg/L, respectively, after 40 d. The marble cutting waste also removed more than 80wt% of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) from AMD generated by copper flotation tailings.