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Use of combined tools for effectiveness evaluation of tailings rehabilitated with designed Technosol

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Abstract

Soil and water characteristics and biogeochemical processes can be improved by the application of an integrated technology based on circular economy: designed Technosol. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the superficial application of a designed Technosol, with andic and eutrophic properties, on the rehabilitation of sulfide tailings of a uranium mine (Fé mining area, Spain) was the aim of this study. After 20 months of the Technosol application, the tailing rehabilitation status (Rehabilitated tailing) was compared to a non-rehabilitated tailing (Tailing). To assess the rehabilitation of these systems, several properties were analyzed: chemical characteristics of the materials and their leachates, soil enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase and urease), basal respiration and several plant endpoints from direct and indirect bioassays and pot experiment using Lolium perennse L. and Trifolium pratense L.. Potentially toxic concentrations of Co, Mn and Ni were identified in both available fraction and leachates, pointing out the serious environmental risk posed by the tailing. The improvement of overall physicochemical properties in the rehabilitated tailing materials (e.g., decrease of the hazardous element concentrations in leachates and available fraction, and improvement of the fertility and structure) allowed a quick plant cover with pasture species and provided a suitable habitat for active microbial community (evaluated by increasing dehydrogenase activity and basal respiration). This improvement in the rehabilitated tailing contributed to a significant decrease in the ecotoxicological risk and the spread of hazardous elements. The field application of this specific Technosol was a promising and lasting solution for rehabilitation of this type of tailings.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank: ENUSA for technical cooperation and for providing access to the study area and field samples; Carmen Pérez and David Romero for technical support; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for financial support of Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Centre (UID/AGR/04129/2020); and Xunta de Galicia for financial support of Group of Excellence GI-1245, AMBIOSOL (GRC2014/003). The authors from the USC belong to the CRETUS Strategic Partnership (AGRUP2015/02), co-funded by FEDER.

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  1. Diego Arán

    Present address: Inproyen Consulting, C/Lugo 18, Santa Comba, A Coruña, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigaciones Tecnológicas, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Diego Arán, Juan Antelo & Felipe Macías

  2. Universidade de Lisboa, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, LEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food—Research Center, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal

    Diego Arán, Erika S. Santos & Maria Manuela Abreu

  3. Departamento de Edafología y Química Agrícola, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Felipe Macías

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Arán, D., Santos, E.S., Abreu, M.M. et al. Use of combined tools for effectiveness evaluation of tailings rehabilitated with designed Technosol. Environ Geochem Health 44, 1857–1873 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-021-01118-3

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