Leaching Characteristics of Mercury Mine Wastes Before and After Solar Thermal Desorption

Navarro, Andrés; Cañadas, Inmaculada; Rodríguez, J.; Martı́nez, Diego

doi:10.1089/ees.2010.0017

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Also, SEM observations showed several small particles containing both Hg and Cl that may be associated to calomel (Hg 2 Cl 2 ). Moreover, some particles containing both Hg and Br were observed and may be associated to kuzminite (Hg 2 (Br,Cl) 2 ) (Navarro et al 2009b;Navarro et al 2012). Additionally, main minerals in the gangue were quartz, barite and silicates.…”

Section: F I G U R E 3 T O T a L Me T A L C O N C E N T R A T I O Nmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemistry and environmental threats of soils surrounding an abandoned mercury mine

Bori

Vallès

Navarro

et al. 2016

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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The closure of mercury mining areas is generally associated with a release of Hg and other metals into the environment due to the abandonment of mining wastes. Because of their potential toxic properties, the mobilization of particulate and soluble metal species is of major concern. In the present study, the environmental risks posed by soils surrounding an abandoned mercury mining area in Valle del Azogue (Almeria, Spain) are assessed through the determination of physical-chemical parameters, the quantification of metal concentrations, and the application of aquatic and terrestrial ecotoxicity bioassays. Chemical analysis of soil samples revealed concentrations of Hg, As, Ba, Pb, Sb, and Zn above international intervention values. Results from terrestrial tests showed detrimental effects in all studied organisms (Eisenia foetida, Folsomia candida, and different plant species) and revealed the avoidance response of earthworms as the most sensitive endpoint. Surprisingly, the most toxic samples were not the ones with higher metal contents but the ones presenting higher electrical conductivity. Aquatic ecotoxicity tests with Vibrio fischeri, Raphidocelis subcapitata, Daphnia magna, and Danio rerio were in accordance with terrestrial tests, confirming the need to couple environmental chemistry with ecotoxicological tools for the proper assessment of metal-contaminated sites. In view of the results, a remediative intervention of the studied area is recommendedPostprint (author's final draft

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Section: F I G U R E 3 T O T a L Me T A L C O N C E N T R A T I O Nmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemistry and environmental threats of soils surrounding an abandoned mercury mine

Bori

Vallès

Navarro

et al. 2016

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furthermore, SEM observations showed several small particles containing both Hg and Cl and that may be associated with calomel (Hg 2 Cl 2 ). Moreover, some particles containing both Hg and Br were observed and may be associated with kuzminite (Hg 2 (Br,Cl) 2 ) [15,22]. Besides, in the gangue, main minerals are quartz, barite and silicates.…”

Section: Geochemistry Of Soils and Mine Wastes: Physical Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal Treatment of Mercury Mine Wastes Using a Rotary Solar Kiln

2014

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Thermal desorption, by a rotary kiln of mercury contaminated soil and mine wastes, has been used in order to volatilize mercury from the contaminated medium. Solar thermal desorption is an innovative treatment that uses solar energy to increase the volatility of contaminants, which are removed from a solid matrix by a controlled air flow system. Samples of soils and mine wastes used in the experiments were collected in the abandoned Valle del Azogue mine (SE, Spain), where a complex ore, composed mainly of cinnabar, arsenic minerals (realgar and orpiment) and stibnite, was mined. The results showed that thermal treatment at temperatures >400 °C successfully lowered the Hg content (2070-116 ppm) to <15 mg kg. The lowest values of mercury in treated samples were obtained at a higher temperature and exposition time. The samples that showed a high removal efficiency (>99%) were associated with the presence of significant contents of cinnabar and an equivalent diameter above 0.8 mm.

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Solar Assisted Production of MgAl2O4 from Bayer Process Electrofilter Fines as Source of Al2O3

Fernández-González,

Piñuela-Noval,

Ruiz-Bustinza

et al. 2024

J. Sustain. Metall.

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Compared with conventional high-temperature methods based on electricity and fossil fuels, concentrated solar energy route offers distinct advantages in terms of mitigating emissions of contaminants and shortening processing times. Nevertheless, solar-based route also encounters challenges in producing significant quantities of materials, although the deployment of this technology is still conditioned by the limited investigation in the field. This study presents a novel high-temperature process based on solar energy to produce MgAl2O4 spinel, which employs as source of Al2O3 a waste from the aluminum industry: waste alumina fines from the Bayer process. First, mixtures were prepared by mechanical mixing in a molar ratio 1:1 in agreement with the MgO–Al2O3 binary phase diagram. Then, synthesis of the MgAl2O4 spinel was conducted by static experiments (5 min) with direct application of concentrated solar energy (1150 W/cm2) at temperatures greatly exceeding 1800 °C as reported by ANSYS software. Wastes from three Bayer process factories were studied, which exhibited after the synthesis process a good crystallinity. The carbon dioxide emissions avoidance would range from the 200 to 500 tons of CO2/year in the case of a small plant producing 1000 tons/year to 5000 to 12,000 tons of CO2/year in the case of a commercial plant producing 25,000 tons/year, thus contributing to mitigate climate change. The proposed process might lead to smaller volume of wastes in the aluminum industry, while the MgAl2O4 may be used as raw material in the numerous fields based on the chemical, thermal, dielectric, mechanical and optical properties. Graphical Abstract

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Leaching Characteristics of Mercury Mine Wastes Before and After Solar Thermal Desorption

Cited by 6 publications

References 44 publications

Geochemistry and environmental threats of soils surrounding an abandoned mercury mine

Geochemistry and environmental threats of soils surrounding an abandoned mercury mine

Thermal Treatment of Mercury Mine Wastes Using a Rotary Solar Kiln

Solar Assisted Production of MgAl2O4 from Bayer Process Electrofilter Fines as Source of Al2O3

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