155541- alkaline wastes (1).pdf (983.1 kB)
Download fileAlkaline industrial wastes – Characteristics, environmental risks, and potential for mine waste management
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 16:41 authored by Moyo, A, Anita Parbhakar-Fox, Sebastien MeffreSebastien Meffre, David CookeDavid CookeThe large quantities of alkaline industrial wastes that are generated globally have the potential to be valorized in various applications instead of being landfilled. This study evaluated the potential reuse of green liquor dregs (GLD), wood ashes, coal ash, red mud, mussel, scallop, and oyster shells to control acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD). Low hydraulic conductivities (10−7 to 10−9 m/min) suggest that covers constructed from fine-grained GLD, red mud, coal ash and wood fly ash can limit the formation of AMD. Static and kinetic test leachates of pH 5.8 to 10.6 indicate that the tested materials can neutralize acidic drainage and immobilize metal(loid)s by precipitation. The alkalinity is proportional to the amount and reactivity of carbonate and hydroxide fractions with red mud followed by coal ash being the most alkaline over 100 weeks and wood ashes the least. The tested industrial wastes generate leachates with a low metal(loid) risk when screened against the Australian freshwater guidelines. However, oxyanions including Al, Cr, Cu, Se, and V were leached in deleterious concentrations ≤100 times more than the guidelines because of their mobility in alkaline conditions. The outcomes of this study highlighted that alkaline industrial wastes can be potentially used in the long-term remediation of AMD as part of an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective integrated mine waste management strategy.
Funding
Australian Research Council
AMIRA International Ltd
BHP Billiton Ltd
Newcrest Mining Limited
History
Publication title
Environmental PollutionVolume
323Article number
121292Number
121292Pagination
1-10ISSN
0269-7491Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Elsevier Sci LtdPlace of publication
The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England, Oxon, Ox5 1GbRights statement
© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This article is an open access article under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License, (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Repository Status
- Open