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Inhibition of acid mine drainage and immobilization of heavy metals from copper flotation tailings using a marble cutting waste

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Abstract

Acid mine drainage (AMD) with high concentrations of sulfates and metals is generated by the oxidation of sulfide bearing wastes. CaCO3-rich marble cutting waste is a residual material produced by the cutting and polishing of marble stone. In this study, the feasibility of using the marble cutting waste as an acid-neutralizing agent to inhibit AMD and immobilize heavy metals from copper flotation tailings (sulfide- bearing wastes) was investigated. Continuous-stirring shake-flask tests were conducted for 40 d, and the pH value, sulfate content, and dissolved metal content of the leachate were analyzed every 10 d to determine the effectiveness of the marble cutting waste as an acid neutralizer. For comparison, CaCO3 was also used as a neutralizing agent. The average pH value of the leachate was 2.1 at the beginning of the experiment (t = 0). In the experiment employing the marble cutting waste, the pH value of the leachate changed from 6.5 to 7.8, and the sulfate and iron concentrations decreased from 4558 to 838 mg/L and from 536 to 0.01 mg/L, respectively, after 40 d. The marble cutting waste also removed more than 80wt% of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) from AMD generated by copper flotation tailings.

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  1. Department of Mining Engineering, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Oltu, 25400, Turkey

    Gulsen Tozsin

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  1. Gulsen Tozsin
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Tozsin, G. Inhibition of acid mine drainage and immobilization of heavy metals from copper flotation tailings using a marble cutting waste. Int J Miner Metall Mater 23, 1–6 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-016-1204-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-016-1204-5

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