Column Leaching Test to Evaluate the Use of Alkaline Industrial Wastes to Neutralize Acid Mine Tailings
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 8
Abstract
Acid mine drainage is a serious environmental problem caused by the oxidation of sulfide minerals that releases highly acidic, sulfate, and metals-rich drainage. In this study, alkaline industrial wastes were mixed with acid mine tailings in order to obtain neutral conditions. A series of column leaching tests were performed to evaluate the behavior of reactive mine tailings amended with alkaline-additions under dynamic conditions. Column tests were conducted of oxidized mine tailings combined with cement kiln dust, red mud bauxite, and mixtures of cement kiln dust with red mud bauxite. The pH results show the addition of 10% of alkaline materials permits the maintenance of near neutral conditions. In the presence of 10% alkaline material, the concentration of toxic metals such as Al, Cu, Fe, Zn are significantly reduced as well as the number of viable cells (Thiobacillus ferrooxidans) compared to control samples.
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Acknowledgments
This study has been supported by the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and by the Fonds pour la Formation de Chercheurs et l’Aide à la Recherche of the Province of Quebec (FCAR).
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131 • Issue 8 • August 2005
Pages: 1221 - 1229
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 11, 2003
Accepted: Jul 29, 2004
Published online: Aug 1, 2005
Published in print: Aug 2005
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