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Silicic protective surface films for pyrite oxidation suppression to control acid mine drainage at the source

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Abstract

The tailings produce acid mine drainage (AMD) due to sulfide minerals, especially pyrite oxidation. AMD has caused serious pollution to the surrounding aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems because of its famous low pH value and high metal and sulfate concentration, which is an urgent environmental problem faced by the world’s ore mining industry. Here, we show that silicic protective surface films can suppress the oxidation of pyrite-bearing tailings for AMD control at-source without pre-oxidation of pyrite and solution pH adjuster and buffer. We found that the silicic protective surface films formed by calcium silicate can inhibit the oxidation of pyrite-bearing tailings and reduce the production of AMD through chemical leaching tests. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM/EDS) confirmed the presence of silicic protective surface films of calcium silicate on the surface of pyrite-bearing tailings.

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Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, the financial support of the Project Funded by the Top-notch Academic Programs Project of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, and the scholarship support from the China Scholarship Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Shuncai Wang, Yue Zhao & Shuang Li

  2. Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia

    Shuncai Wang

Authors
  1. Shuncai Wang
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  2. Yue Zhao
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  3. Shuang Li
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Correspondence to Shuncai Wang.

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Wang, S., Zhao, Y. & Li, S. Silicic protective surface films for pyrite oxidation suppression to control acid mine drainage at the source. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 25725–25732 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05803-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05803-w

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