Coating development on mine waste rocks as a protective sink to attenuate the off-site migration of antimony in the environment.

This study explored the feasibility of depositing protective coatings with an Sb scavenger function on mine waste rocks derived from the exploitation of stibnite deposits. Encapsulation treatments were performed using ferrous sulfate as the coating precursor. Different Fe/Sb molar ratios (0.

Assessment of industrial by-products as amendments to stabilize antimony mine wastes.

The spread of antimony from mine wastes to the environment represents a matter of great concern due to its adverse effects on impacted ecosystems. There is an urgent need for developing and adopting sustainable and inexpensive measures to deal with this type of wastes. In this study the Sb leaching behavior of mine waste rocks and mine tailings derived from the exploitation of Sb ore deposits was characterized using standard batch leaching tests (TCLP and EN-12457-4) and column leaching essays.

Antimony distribution and mobility in different types of waste derived from the exploitation of stibnite ore deposits.

Wastes derived from the exploitation of stibnite ore deposits were studied to determine their mineralogical, chemical, and environmental characteristics and establish the Sb distribution and the current and long-term risks of Sb mobilization. Representative samples of mine waste rocks, mine tailings, and smelting waste were studied by X-ray powder diffraction, polarized light microscopy, electron microprobe analysis, and digestion, leaching, and extraction procedures. The main Sb-bearing minerals and phases identified in the smelting waste were natrojarosite, iron (oxyhydr)oxides, mixtures of iron and antimony (oxyhydr)oxides, and tripuhyite; those in the mine tailings and mine waste rocks were iron (oxyhydr)oxides and/or mixtures of iron and antimony (oxyhydr)oxides.

Application of different alkaline materials as polluted soil amendments: A comparative assessment of their impact on trace element mobility and microbial functions.

Treatment with chemical amendments is among the best techniques to remediate soils highly polluted with trace elements. The use of waste-derived products has several advantages in this regard, mainly in terms of reducing process costs and conserving natural resources. In this study, the performance of the synthetic zeolite NaP1 derived from coal combustion fly ash (SZ) and the by-product generated from the processing of aluminum salt slags (BP) was evaluated with this aim in comparison to calcite (CC).

Characterization of secondary products in arsenopyrite-bearing mine wastes: influence of cementation on arsenic attenuation.

The secondary products of an arsenopyrite-bearing mine waste dump were characterized in order to ascertain their mineralogical, chemical and environmental features and to appraise their role in the abatement of As in the environment. To this purpose, representative surface samples of weathered sulfides (including cemented phases) and hardpan samples were collected and studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), polarized light microscopy, electron microprobe analysis (EMPA), micro-Raman spectroscopy and digestion, extraction and leaching methods. Scorodite, amorphous ferric arsenates (AFA), elemental sulfur, hydronium jarosite, goethite, hematite and hydrous ferric oxides were the secondary products identified in the mine wastes.