Abstract
A method for rapidly determining potential H+ production by sulfide oxidation with H2O2 in mine-spoil materials has been tested. Measuring pH 6 h after the addition of the H2O2 in a 1:20 sample-solution (w/v) ratio, seems to be an adequate period for most of the samples. The method was applied to spoil samples, being recommended as a measure of the potential of a material to acidify the environment, in the first steps of characterization of the tailing's materials. The same procedure after grinding can also indicate the inherent ability to neutralize the acidity. This will allow the selection of the most suitable materials to be mixed in the spoil with the sulfide-rich ones, facilitating the later field work.
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Urrutia, M.M., Garcia-Rodeja, E. & Macias, F. Sulfide oxidation in coal-mine dumps: Laboratory measurement of acidifying potential with H2O2 and its application to characterize spoil materials. Environmental Management 16, 81–89 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02393911
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02393911