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Removal and Recovery of Ni and Zn from Contaminated Neutral Drainage by Thermally Activated Dolomite and Hydrothermally Activated Wood Ash

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Abstract

Raw and activated dolomite or wood ash were comparatively evaluated in column reactors for the simultaneous removal of Ni and Zn in synthetic contaminated neutral drainage (CND) over 119 days. Dolomite was thermally activated by charring, while wood ash was subject to alkaline fusion followed by hydrothermal treatment. Column testing was performed using CND with 51.5 mg/L Ni and 46.5 mg/L Zn, at pH 6. Testing was considered complete when metal concentrations in the final effluent reached 0.5 mg/L to meet Canadian regulations on discharge. Results showed that thermally activated wood ash was the most efficient among all tested materials as it removed 64 mg/g Ni and 61.6 mg/g Zn. Based on these results, thermally activated wood ash could be considered a promising option for Ni and Zn treatment in CND, although final pH correction of treated effluent might be necessary. At the end of the testing period, metals could be recovered by dissolution with concentrated acid and by hydrometallurgical processes from spent activated dolomite and wood ash, respectively. As spent material could be used for recovery of treated metals, sludge management issues could be alleviated.

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Funding

This research was funded by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Canada Research Chairs Program, the College of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the industrial partners of CTRI, including Regénération, Iamgold Corporation, Hecla Québec, Canadian Malartic Mine, Technosub, and Organisme Bassin Versant du Témiscamingue, as well as the industrial partners of RIME UQAT-Polytechnique Montréal, including Agnico Eagle, Canadian Malartic Mine, Éléonore-Newmont Goldcorp, Iamgold Corporation, Raglan Mine-Glencore, and Rio Tinto. The funding sources had no involvement in the design of the study, in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, and in the decision to submit the present article for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute on Mines and Environment (RIME), University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue (UQAT), 445 Boul. de l’Universite, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada

    Iuliana Laura Calugaru, Carmen Mihaela Neculita & Thomas Genty

  2. Technology Center for Industrial Waste (Centre Technologique des Résidus Industriels – CTRI), 433 Boul. du College, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 0E1, Canada

    Iuliana Laura Calugaru

  3. RIME, Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, H3C 3A7, Canada

    Gérald J. Zagury

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  1. Iuliana Laura Calugaru
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  2. Carmen Mihaela Neculita
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  4. Gérald J. Zagury
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Correspondence to Carmen Mihaela Neculita.

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Calugaru, I.L., Neculita, C.M., Genty, T. et al. Removal and Recovery of Ni and Zn from Contaminated Neutral Drainage by Thermally Activated Dolomite and Hydrothermally Activated Wood Ash. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 226 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04600-3

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