Biopolymer Stabilization of Mine Tailings for Dust Control
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 141, Issue 2
Abstract
Mine tailings, or mill tailings (MTs), are highly susceptible to wind erosion (dust) and have brought about different environmental and safety concerns. Many efforts have been attempted to stabilize MTs for dust control, but all have drawbacks. The current study investigates the feasibility of using two natural and renewable biopolymers, xanthan gum and guar gum, to stabilize MTs for dust control. Moisture retention and wind tunnel tests were performed to evaluate, respectively, the enhancement of water retention capacity and the improvement of resistance to wind dispersal after MTs were treated with biopolymer solutions of different concentrations. Because the resistance to the formation of dust is closely related to how easy the particles can be detached from the surface, a flat-ended cylindrical penetrometer was manufactured and used to evaluate the surface strength (maximum penetration force) of dry MT specimens treated with biopolymer solutions of different concentrations. Scanning electron microscopy imaging was also performed to investigate the evolvement of the microstructure of MTs after biopolymer treatment. The results indicate that both xanthan gum and guar gum are effective in enhancing the moisture retention capacity, improving the dust resistance, and increasing the surface strength of MTs beyond that of water wetting. This is mainly because the biopolymers form coatings on MT particles and create bonding between them. The results also demonstrate that the flat-ended cylindrical penetrometer is a promising technique for characterizing the dust resistance of MTs.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank Erick Weiland, Leonard Santisteban, and Connor Moore for careful review of the manuscript. The authors also appreciate the support and help to this research project from Dan Ramey, Brett Waterman, and Stefka Ormsby.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 141 • Issue 2 • February 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 20, 2013
Accepted: Oct 2, 2014
Published online: Oct 27, 2014
Published in print: Feb 1, 2015
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