Thermal Treatment of Mercury Mine Wastes Using a Rotary Solar Kiln

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

doi:10.3390/min4010037

Cited by 19 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Navarro et al (2014) confirmed the effectiveness of thermal desorption for the removal of Hg (removal efficiency = 99 %) from a soil collected from abandoned mining area of Iberian Peninsula. Solar thermal desorption could be an innovative AMLs treatment option; however, future studies are warranted in this direction.…”

Section: Other Approaches For Reclamation Of Amlssupporting

confidence: 79%

Abandoned metalliferous mines: ecological impacts and potential approaches for reclamation

Venkateswarlu

Nirola

Kuppusamy

et al. 2016

Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol

122

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The lack of awareness for timely management of the environment surrounding a metal mine site results in several adverse consequences such as rampant business losses, abandoning the bread-earning mining industry, domestic instability and rise in ghost towns, increased environmental pollution, and indirect long-term impacts on the ecosystem. Although several abandoned mine lands (AMLs) exist globally, information on these derelict mines has not been consolidated in the literature. We present here the state-of-the-art on AMLs in major mining countries with emphasis on their impact towards soil health and biodiversity, remediation methods, and laws governing management of mined sites. While reclamation of metalliferous mines by phytoremediation is still a suitable option, there exist several limitations for its implementation. However, many issues of phytoremediation at the derelict mines can be resolved following phytostabilization, a technology that is effective also at the modern operational mine sites. The use of transgenic plant species in phytoremediation of metals in contaminated sites is also gaining momentum. In any case, monitoring and efficacy testing for bioremediation of mined sites is essential. The approaches for reclamation of metalliferous mines such as environmental awareness, effective planning and assessment of pre-and postmining activities, implementation of regulations, and a safe and good use of phytostabilizers among the native plants for revegetation and ecological restoration are discussed in detail in the present review. We also suggest the use of microbially-enhanced phytoremediation and nanotechnology for efficient reclamation of AMLs, and identify future work warranted in this area of research. Further, we believe that the integration of science of remediation with mining policies and regulations is a reliable option which when executed can virtually balance economic development and environmental destruction for safer future.

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Section: Other Approaches For Reclamation Of Amlssupporting

confidence: 79%

Abandoned metalliferous mines: ecological impacts and potential approaches for reclamation

Venkateswarlu

Nirola

Kuppusamy

et al. 2016

Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol

122

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“…There are previous preliminary studies that have demonstrated the viability of the Hg release at temperatures between 127 and 600°C (Chang and Yen 2006;Chang et al 2009;Matsuyama et al 1999;Navarro et al 2009Navarro et al , 2014Palmieri et al 2006). Hg will be released at different temperatures depending on the phase to which it is linked (Navarro et al 2009(Navarro et al , 2014. Studies about the remediation of Hg-polluted soils by thermal desorption at low temperature have shown Hg removal of over 99 % in sand matrices (Kunkel et al 2006); negligible values in mining soils and residues which have a great percentage of pyrite and cinnabar in their composition; 76 % in mining soils and residues which have the most of Hg from atmospheric deposition (Navarro et al 2009); and the thermal treatment of an Hg-contaminated soil (69 mg kg −1 ) with a common chloridizing agent (FeCl 3 ) at a reduced temperature (400°C) reduced to a level below the maximum mercury concentration allowed for soil in China (Fujun et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…A typical thermal desorption unit for Hg removal operates at temperatures from 320 to 700°C (United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) 2007), and it is one of the few methods that are effective for very high Hg concentrations (Xu et al 2015). There are previous preliminary studies that have demonstrated the viability of the Hg release at temperatures between 127 and 600°C (Chang and Yen 2006;Chang et al 2009;Matsuyama et al 1999;Navarro et al 2009Navarro et al , 2014Palmieri et al 2006). Hg will be released at different temperatures depending on the phase to which it is linked (Navarro et al 2009(Navarro et al , 2014.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Sustainable remediation of mercury contaminated soils by thermal desorption

Sierra

Millán

López

et al. 2015

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Mercury soil contamination is an important environmental problem that needs the development of sustainable and efficient decontamination strategies. This work is focused on the application of a remediation technique that maintains soil ecological and environmental services to the extent possible as well as search for alternative sustainable land uses. Controlled thermal desorption using a solar furnace at pilot scale was applied to different types of soils, stablishing the temperature necessary to assure the functionality of these soils and avoid the Hg exchange to the other environmental compartments. Soil mercury content evolution (total, soluble, and exchangeable) as temperature increases and induced changes in selected soil quality indicators are studied and assessed. On total Hg, the temperature at which it is reduced until acceptable levels depends on the intended soil use and on how restrictive are the regulations. For commercial, residential, or industrial uses, soil samples should be heated to temperatures higher than 280 °C, at which more than 80 % of the total Hg is released, reaching the established legal total Hg level and avoiding eventual risks derived from high available Hg concentrations. For agricultural use or soil natural preservation, conversely, maintenance of acceptable levels of soil quality limit heating temperatures, and additional treatments must be considered to reduce available Hg. Besides total Hg concentration in soils, available Hg should be considered to make final decisions on remediation treatments and potential future uses. Graphical Abstract Solar energy use for remediation of soils affected by mercury.

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“…The use of thermal desorption to volatilize Hg from Hg-contaminated soil and mine wastes is described by Navarro et al [15], and Mäkitalo et al [16] outline the properties of green liquor dregs (GLD), alkaline residual materials produced by sulfate paper mills. Johnson [17] reviews recent advances in biotechnologies using microorganisms that can reduce the reactivity of potentially hazardous mine tailings and selectively remove metals and other contaminants from mine waters.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mine Waste Characterization, Management and Remediation

Hudson‐Edwards

Dold²

2015

Minerals

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Mining is a vital part of the Global economy, but the extraction of metals, metalloids, and other mineral products generates vast quantities of liquid and solid waste. Currently the volume is estimated at several thousand million tons per annum, but is increasing exponentially as demand and exploitation of lower-grade deposits increases. The high concentrations of potentially toxic elements in these wastes can pose risks to ecosystems and humans, but these risks can be mitigated by implementing appropriate management or remediation schemes. Although there are a large number of such schemes available, there is still a need to research the processes, products, and effectiveness of implementation, as well as the nature of the mine wastes themselves. This Special Issue is aimed at bringing together studies in the areas of mine waste characterization, management, and remediation, to review the current state of knowledge and to develop improvements in current schemes. Fourteen manuscripts are published for this Special Issue, and these are summarized below.[...]

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Thermal Treatment of Mercury Mine Wastes Using a Rotary Solar Kiln

Cited by 19 publications

References 22 publications

Abandoned metalliferous mines: ecological impacts and potential approaches for reclamation

Abandoned metalliferous mines: ecological impacts and potential approaches for reclamation

Sustainable remediation of mercury contaminated soils by thermal desorption

Mine Waste Characterization, Management and Remediation

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