Abstract
The effect of the electrokinetic process on the extraction of trapped water was evaluated in the Miduk copper mine’s tailings slurry. The effect of the dewatering process on copper removal was also studied. The initial electroosmotic permeability was determined using a one-dimensional cell. In the next step, the effect of voltage and polarity reversal was evaluated for three scenarios: T1 (2 V/cm), T2 (2 V/cm), and T3 (1 V/cm). In addition, the polarity reversal method was applied to T2 and T3. To compare the amount of water extraction and energy consumption, three indices were considered and calculated: index of dry tone, water extraction, and normal water extraction. Moreover, the effect of electrokinetics on the final moisture content, physicochemical variation, and chemical composition were investigated. The results indicated that the calculated electroosmotic permeability ranged from 1.23 × 10–9 to 1.36 × 10–9 m2/V·S, which is acceptable for electrokinetic experiments. The water extraction experiments showed average flow rates of 1.68, 1.84, and 1.73 mL/h in T1, T2, and T3, respectively. The maximum amount of water extracted in T2 was ≈ 6% more than in T3. However, considering electric energy consumption, the highest efficiency of water extraction was achieved by applying a voltage gradient of 1 V/cm for 24 h. Consequently, polarity reversal affected the water extraction efficiency by reducing energy consumption. Furthermore, moisture reduction due to the dewatering process decreased the pH variation and copper release and transport. Roughly 35% of the extractable copper was removed on the anode side of T2, which was determined to be the most efficient for remediation.
Zusammenfassung
Die Auswirkungen des elektrokinetischen Prozesses auf die Extraktion von eingeschlossenem Wasser sowie Freisetzung und Transport von Kupfer wurde anhand von Tailings-Schlämmen aus der Miduk Kupfermine im Iran erprobt. Die anfängliche elektroosmotische Permeabilität wurde mittels eindimensionaler Zelle bestimmt. In einem Folgeschritt wurde der Effekt von Spannungs- und Polaritätswechsel für drei Szenarien untersucht: T1 (2 V/cm), Ts (2 V/cm) und T3 (1 V/cm), wobei für T2 und T3 auch die Polaritätsumkehr angewandt wurde. Um die Entwässerung und den Energieverbrauch der Szenarien zu verglichen, wurden drei Indizes berechnet und berücksichtigt: Energieeffizienz, Wasserextraktion und normalisierte Wasserextraktion. Zusätzlich wurde der Effekt der Elektrokinetik auf den finalen Wassergehalt, physikochemische Veränderungen und chemische Zusammensetzung untersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine (für elektrokinetische Experimente akzeptable) berechnete elektroosmotische Permeabilität im Bereich von 1,23 × 10–9 bis 1,36 × 10–9 m2/V∙S. Die Experimente zur Wasserextraktion zeigen mittlere Volumenströme von 1,68, 1,84 und 1,73 mL/h in T1, T2 und T3. Die höchste in T2 entzogene Wassermenge lag ≈6% über der in T3. Unter Berücksichtigung des Energieverbrauchs wurde allerdings die höchste Effizienz bei der Wasserextraktion bei einem Spannungsgradienten von 1 V/cm über 24 h erreicht. Insofern beeinflusste die Polaritätsumkehr die Effizienz der Entwässerung durch Verringerung des Energieverbrauchs. Zudem ging mit der Reduzierung der Feuchtigkeit auch eine Verringerung der pH-Schwankungen sowie Freisetzung und Transport von Kupfer einher. Rund 35% des extrahierbaren Kupfers wurden in T2 anodenseitig entfern, was für die Sanierung als am effizientesten angesehen wurde.
抽象的
评价了电动力学过程对提取Miduk铜矿尾浆束缚水的影响, 研究了脱水过程对去除铜的作用。用一维电导池确定了起始电渗透率。接着, 通过T1 (2 V/cm),T2 (2 V/cm) 和T3 (1 V/cm) 三种情形评价了电压和极性逆转的影响。T2和T3为极性逆转情形。为比较脱水量和能量消耗, 考虑并计算了三个指标: 干燥指数, 脱水量和正常脱水量。此外, 还研究了电动力学对最终含水量, 物理化学变化和化学成分的影响。结果表明, 计算电渗透率在1.23 × 10 −9到1.36 × 10 −9 m 2 /V∙S之间, 为电动力学实验可接受值。脱水实验显示, 情形T1、T2和T3的平均流量分别为1.68,1.84和1.73 mL/hr。情形T2的最大脱水量比情形T3多≈6%。然而, 从电能消耗角度, 24小时内1V/cm电压梯度的脱水效率最高。因此, 极性反转通过减少能源消耗影响脱水效率。此外, 脱水导致尾矿水分减少, 降低了pH值的变化, 减少了铜的释放与迁移。情形T2阳极去除了约35%的可萃取铜, 被认为是最有效的处理方案。
Resumen
Se evaluó el efecto del proceso electrocinético en la extracción de agua atrapada en los lodos de la mina de cobre de Miduk. También se estudió el efecto del proceso de desagote en la extracción de cobre. La permeabilidad electroosmótica inicial se determinó utilizando una celda unidimensional. A continuación, se evaluó el efecto del voltaje y la inversión de la polaridad para tres escenarios: T1 (2 V/cm), T2 (2 V/cm) y T3 (1 V/cm). Además, el método de inversión de polaridad se aplicó a T2 y T3. Para comparar la cantidad de agua extraída y el consumo de energía, se consideraron y calcularon tres índices: índice de tono seco, extracción de agua y extracción de agua normal. Además, se investigó el efecto de la electrocinética en el contenido final de humedad, la variación fisicoquímica y la composición química. Los resultados indicaron que la permeabilidad electroosmótica calculada oscilaba entre 1,23 × 10–9 y 1,36 × 10–9 m2/V∙S, lo cual es aceptable para los experimentos electrocinéticos. Los experimentos de extracción de agua mostraron caudales medios de 1,68, 1,84 y 1,73 mL/h en T1, T2 y T3, respectivamente. La cantidad máxima de agua extraída en T2 fue ≈ 6% más que en T3. Sin embargo, teniendo en cuenta el consumo de energía eléctrica, la mayor eficiencia de extracción de agua se logró aplicando un gradiente de voltaje de 1 V/cm durante 24 h. En consecuencia, la inversión de la polaridad afectó a la eficiencia de extracción de agua reduciendo el consumo de energía. Además, la reducción de la humedad debida al proceso de desagote disminuyó la variación del pH y la liberación y el transporte del cobre. Aproximadamente el 35% del cobre extraíble se eliminó en el lado del ánodo de T2, que se determinó como el más eficiente para la remediación.
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Acknowledgements
This article is part of a research project focused on monitoring and modelling of the electrokinetic process on the dewatering and remediation of mine tailings at the Miduk copper mine in Kerman, Iran. The authors are grateful to the R&D Division of the National Iranian Copper Company (NICICO) for their cooperation. The authors also thank Dr. S Maghsoudy, Mr. MJ. Khakpour, Mr. H. Mousavi, Mrs. R. Siyar, and Mrs. S.S. Saadaatmir for their technical and experimental support.
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Shafaei, F., Doulati Ardejani, F., Bahroudi, A. et al. Electrokinetic Studies of Mine Tailings Considering Dewatering and Mass Transport at the Miduk Copper Mine, SE Iran. Mine Water Environ 40, 847–863 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-021-00806-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-021-00806-x