scholarly journals Secondary Sulfates from the Monte Arsiccio Mine (Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy): Trace-Element Budget and Role in the Formation of Acid Mine Drainage

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 206
Author(s):  
Massimo D’Orazio ◽  
Daniela Mauro ◽  
Marta Valerio ◽  
Cristian Biagioni

A suite of sulfate minerals from the Monte Arsiccio mine (Apuan Alps, Northern Tuscany, Italy), previously identified by using both X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy, was studied through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), in order to determine their trace-element content. Several elements (Tl, Rb, As, Sb, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cr) were found above the detection limits. Among them, some are important from an environmental perspective and may reach relatively high concentrations (e.g., Tl = 1370–2988 μg/g; As = 505–1680 μg/g). Thus, these sulfates may act as transient sinks for some of these potentially toxic elements, as well as for sulfate ions and acidity. Indeed, dissolution experiments revealed the ability of these secondary minerals to produce a significant pH decrease of the solutions, as well as the release of Fe, Al, and K as major ions. This work discusses the relation between the budget of trace elements and the crystal chemistry of sulfate minerals and provides new insights about the environmental role played by the sulfate dissolution in controlling the quality of water in acid mine drainage systems.

2020 ◽  
Vol 81 (12) ◽  
pp. 2568-2584
Author(s):  
Caroline Lomalungelo Dlamini ◽  
Lueta-Ann De Kock ◽  
Kebede Keterew Kefeni ◽  
Bhekie Brilliance Mamba ◽  
Titus Alfred Makudali Msagati

Abstract Iron (Fe), zirconium (Zr) and titanium (Ti) oxides nanoparticles were each embedded onto a weak acid chelating resin for support using the precipitation method to generate three hybrid adsorbents of hydrated Fe oxide (HFO-P), hydrated Zr oxide (HZO-P) and hydrated Ti oxide (HTO-P). This paper reports on the characterization, performance and potential of these generated nanoadsorbents in the removal of toxic metal ions from acid mine drainage (AMD). The optimum contact time, adsorbent dose and pH for aluminium (Al) (III) adsorption were established using the batch equilibrium technique. The metal levels were measured using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results confirmed the presence of the metal oxides within the hybrid resin beads. HFO-P, HZO-P and HTO-P adsorbed Al(III) rapidly from synthetic water with maximum adsorption capacities of 54.04, 58.36 and 40.10 mg/g, respectively, at initial pH 1.80 ± 0.02. The adsorption of Al(III) is of the second-order in nature (R2 > 0.98). The nanosorbents removed ten selected metals from environmental AMD and the metal removal efficiency was in the order HTO-P > HZO-P > HFO-P. All three hybrid nanosorbents can be used to remove metals from AMD; the choice would be dependent on the pH of the water to be treated.


Clay Minerals ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Fenton ◽  
M. G. Healy ◽  
M. Rodgers ◽  
D. O Huallacháin

AbstractAcid mine-drainage from an abandoned Cu-S mine adit, located in the Avoca–Avonmore catchment in the southeast of Ireland, results in low-value ochre deposition. Ochre found on-site had similar physical (particle size 97.7% <2 mm and dry bulk density 0.8 g cm3), but dissimilar maximum P-retention characteristics (16–21 g P kg–1) to coal-mining ochre found in the UK. Stereomicroscopy identified oolites and diatoms in the ochre that were indicative of acidic environments. X-ray diffraction showed Fe mineralogy consisting of goethite, jarosite and minor amounts of ferrihydrite. Investigations by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and bulk energy-dispersive spectroscopy showed potentially toxic concentrations of Fe, Zn, Pb, As and Cu. Rapid mobilization of metals occurred during P-adsorption tests, which makes Avoca ochre unsuitable for use in a surface-water environmental technology.


1988 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick J. Sullivan ◽  
Jennifer L. Yelton

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 804-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Marcon de Carvalho Leite ◽  
Luisa Poyares Cardoso ◽  
Jaime Wilson Vargas de Mello

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is one of the main environmental impacts caused by mining. Thus, innovative mitigation strategies should be exploited, to neutralize acidity and prevent mobilization of trace elements in AMD. The use of industrial byproducts has been considered an economically and environmentally effective alternative to remediate acid mine drainage. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the use of steel slag to mitigate acid mine drainage in a sulfidic material from a uranium mine, as an alternative to the use of limestone. Thus, increasing doses of two neutralizing agents were applied to a sulfidic material from the uranium mine Osamu Utsumi in Caldas, Minas Gerais State. A steel slag from the company ArcelorMittal Tubarão and a commercial limestone were used as neutralizing agents. The experiment was conducted in leaching columns, arranged in a completely randomized, [(2 x 3) + 1] factorial design, consisting of two neutralizing agents, three doses and one control, in three replications, totaling 21 experimental units. Electrical conductivity (EC), pH and the concentrations of Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, S, Se, and Zn were evaluated in the leached solutions. The trace element concentration was evaluated by ICP-OES. Furthermore, the CO2 emission was measured at the top of the leaching columns by capturing in NaOH solution and titration with HCl, in the presence of BaCl2. An increase in the pH of the leachate was observed for both neutralizing agents, with slightly higher values for steel slag. The EC was lower at the higher lime dose at an early stage of the experiment, and CO2 emission was greater with the use of limestone compared to steel slag. A decrease in trace element mobilization in the presence of both neutralizing agents was also observed. Therefore, the results showed that the use of steel slag is a suitable alternative to mitigate AMD, with the advantage of reducing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere compared to limestone.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document