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Sun M, Liu J, Lin K, Yuan W, Liang X, Wu H, Zhang Y, Dai Q, Yang X, Song G, Wang J. Distribution and migration of rare earth elements in sediment profile near a decommissioned uranium hydrometallurgical site in South China: Environmental implications. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 366:121832. [PMID: 39038435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Rare earth elements have garnered increasing attention due to their strategic properties and chronic toxicity to humans. To better understand the content, migration, and ecological risk of rare earth elements in a 180 cm depth sediment profile downstream of a decommissioned uranium hydrometallurgical site in South China, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and High-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) were additionally used to quantify and clarify the mineral composition features. The results showed a high enrichment level of total rare earth elements in the sediment depth profile (range: 129.6-1264.3 mg/kg); the concentration variation of light rare earth elements was more dependent on depth than heavy rare earth elements. Overall, there was an obvious enrichment trend of light rare earth elements relative to heavy rare earth elements and negative anomalies of Ce and Eu. The fractionation and anomaly of rare earth elements in sediments were closely related to the formation and weathering of iron-bearing minerals and clay minerals, as confirmed by the correlation analysis of rare earth elements with Fe (r2 = 0.77-0.90) and Al (r2 = 0.50-0.71). The mineralogical composition of sediments mainly consisted of quartz, feldspar, magnetite, goethite, and hematite. Pollution assessment based on the potential ecological risk index, pollution load index (PLI), enrichment factor, and geological accumulation index (Igeo) showed that almost all the sediments had varying degrees of pollution and a high level of ecological risk. This study implied that continued environmental supervision and management are needed to secure the ecological health in terms of rare earth elements enrichment around a decommissioned uranium hydrometallurgical site. The findings may provide valuable insights for other uranium mining and hydrometallurgical areas globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqing Sun
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Waters Quality & Conservation in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Juan Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Waters Quality & Conservation in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ke Lin
- Earth Observatory of Singapore and Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Wenhuan Yuan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Waters Quality & Conservation in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoliang Liang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mineralogy and Metallogeny/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Physics and Materials, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hanyu Wu
- Sino-French Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Waters Quality & Conservation in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qunwei Dai
- School of Environment and Resource, Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycling, Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Song
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Waters Quality & Conservation in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Waters Quality & Conservation in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China.
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2
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Wen L, Huang W, Zhang Y, Jiu B, Yan D, Hao R, Hao H. Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Rare Earth Elements in Carboniferous-Permian Coals at the Eastern Margin of the Ordos Basin. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:32481-32501. [PMID: 39100303 PMCID: PMC11292844 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c00546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
This article used Carboniferous-Permian coals from the Jungar, Hedong, and Weibei Coalfields in the east of the Ordos Basin as research samples. Characteristics of coal quality, petrology, mineralogy, and geochemistry were analyzed by proximate analysis, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy-energy spectrum analysis, and incident light microscope. The enrichment regulations, distribution patterns, and occurrences of REY (rare earth element and yttrium) in coal under different geological conditions were compared. Geological significance and the influence of REY were then discussed. The average REY of Permian coal in the eastern margin of the basin is 127.9 μg/g, CC = 1.87, and the average REY of Carboniferous coal is 117.49 μg/g, CC = 1.72, which are within the normal enrichment range. The inorganic affinity of REYs in the study area is strong and mainly occurs in clay minerals and detrital phosphates and correlates well with LREY. The Permian coal sedimentary environment is more oxidized than the Taiyuan formation, and the Carboniferous coal sedimentary environment is noticeably more affected by marine water. With an increasing degree of coalification, the concentration of rare earth elements (REE) in high-rank coal vitrinite is lower than that in inertinite. In contrast, the concentration of REEs in low-rank coal is the opposite. This is because the oxygen-containing functional groups that can combine with REEs in vitrinite reduce significantly, resulting in the loss of trace elements into other forms. The provenance of the northern and central regions of the study area is mainly sedimentary rocks, granite, alkaline basalt, and continental tholeiite, while the southern region is mainly granite and sedimentary rocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Wen
- School
of Energy Resources, China University of
Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
- Key
Laboratory for Marine Reservoir Evolution and Hydrocarbon Abundance
Mechanism, School of Energy Resources, China
University of Geosciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China
- Institute
of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Wenhui Huang
- School
of Energy Resources, China University of
Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
- Key
Laboratory for Marine Reservoir Evolution and Hydrocarbon Abundance
Mechanism, School of Energy Resources, China
University of Geosciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yuanfu Zhang
- School
of Energy Resources, China University of
Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
- Institute
of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Bo Jiu
- School
of Energy Resources, China University of
Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
- Key
Laboratory for Marine Reservoir Evolution and Hydrocarbon Abundance
Mechanism, School of Energy Resources, China
University of Geosciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Deyu Yan
- School
of Energy Resources, China University of
Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
- Key
Laboratory for Marine Reservoir Evolution and Hydrocarbon Abundance
Mechanism, School of Energy Resources, China
University of Geosciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ruilin Hao
- School
of Energy Resources, China University of
Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
- Key
Laboratory for Marine Reservoir Evolution and Hydrocarbon Abundance
Mechanism, School of Energy Resources, China
University of Geosciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Huidi Hao
- School
of Energy Resources, China University of
Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
- Key
Laboratory for Marine Reservoir Evolution and Hydrocarbon Abundance
Mechanism, School of Energy Resources, China
University of Geosciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China
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3
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Kotte-Hewa DJ, Durce D, Salah S, Vantelon D, Smolders E. Association of rare earth elements with secondary mineral phases formed during alkalinization of acid mine drainage. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 948:174895. [PMID: 39032740 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Rare Earth Elements (REE) are present in acid mine drainage (AMD) in micromolar concentrations and AMD discharge may lead to an environmental risk. Alkaline Passive Treatment Systems (PTS) are often used to treat AMD and trap toxic trace elements. This study was set up to identify mechanisms by which REE are trapped in or on secondary phases formed in a PTS. Batch alkalinization experiments were performed to simulate PTS by sequentially increasing the pH of AMD collected from the Tharsis mining area inside the Iberian Pyrite Belt and synthetic AMD water samples via CaCO3 addition. The solids that precipitated up to pH ~4 and between pH 4-6 were collected and characterized by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) in combination with Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) and synchrotron-based X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and synchrotron-based Micro-X-ray Fluorescence (μ-XRF). Results reveal that REE are mostly scavenged between pH 4-6 in association with Al and Fe phases, whereas a smaller fraction is scavenged at pH ~4 by association with gypsum. Synchrotron-based analysis evidences the incorporation of La3+ into the gypsum structure by substituting Ca2+, indicating a co-precipitation mechanism with gypsum occurring mainly at low pH. Results from parallel adsorption and co-precipitation tests suggest that the REE scavenging between pH 4-6 could be due to a combination of adsorption and co-precipitation on Al(OH)3 and ferrihydrite. This implies that in PTS, REE would be mainly found in Al- (and Fe-) oxyhydroxides occurring in deeper layers of the PTS, i.e., where higher pH-values occur, though a small fraction, especially the light REE, could also be found incorporated into gypsum in the upper layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dileesha Jayahansani Kotte-Hewa
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Boeretang 200, Mol 2400, Belgium; KU Leuven, Department of Soil and Water Management, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
| | - Delphine Durce
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Boeretang 200, Mol 2400, Belgium
| | - Sonia Salah
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Boeretang 200, Mol 2400, Belgium
| | - Delphine Vantelon
- LUCIA Beamline, SOLEIL Synchrotron, L'Orme des Merisiers, Départementale 128, 91190 Saint-Aubin, France
| | - Erik Smolders
- KU Leuven, Department of Soil and Water Management, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
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Sánchez-España J, Falagán C, Meier J. Aluminum Biorecovery from Wastewaters. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38877309 DOI: 10.1007/10_2024_256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Aluminum biorecovery is still at an early stage. However, a significant number of studies showing promising results already exist, although they have revealed problems that need to be solved so aluminum biorecovery can have a wider application and industrial upscaling. In this chapter, we revise the existing knowledge on the biorecovery of aluminum from different sources. We discuss the design, overall performance, advantages, technical problems, limitations, and possible future directions of the different biotechnological methods that have been reported so far. Aluminum biorecovery from different sources has been studied (i.e., solid wastes and primary sources of variable origin, wastewater with low concentrations of dissolved aluminum at pH-neutral or weakly acidic conditions, and acidic mine waters with high concentrations of dissolved aluminum and other metal(loid)s) and has shown that the process efficiency strongly depends on factors such as (1) the physicochemical properties of the source materials, (2) the physiological features of the used (micro)organisms, or (3) the biochemical process used. Bioleaching of aluminum from low-grade bauxite or red mud can much be achieved by a diverse range of organisms (e.g., fungi, bacteria) with different metabolic rates. Biorecovery of aluminum from wastewaters, e.g., domestic wastewater, acidic mine water, has also been accomplished by the use of microalgae, cyanobacteria (for domestic wastewater) or by sulfate-reducing bacteria (acidic mine water). In most of the cases, the drawback of the process is the requirement of controlled conditions which involves a continuous supply of oxygen or maintenance of anoxic conditions which make aluminum biorecovery challenging in terms of process design and economical value. Further studies should focus on studying these processes in comparison or in combination to existing economical processes to assess their feasibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Sánchez-España
- Planetary Geology and Atmospheres Research Group, Department of Planetology and Habitability, Centro de Astrobiología (CAB, CSIC-INTA), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Carmen Falagán
- School of Biological Sciences, King Henry Building, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Jutta Meier
- Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, University of Koblenz, Koblenz, Germany
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5
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Bishop BA, Alam MS, Flynn SL, Chen N, Hao W, Ramachandran Shivakumar K, Swaren L, Gutierrez Rueda D, Konhauser KO, Alessi DS, Robbins LJ. Rare Earth Element Adsorption to Clay Minerals: Mechanistic Insights and Implications for Recovery from Secondary Sources. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:7217-7227. [PMID: 38588505 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
The energy transition will have significant mineral demands and there is growing interest in recovering critical metals, including rare earth elements (REE), from secondary sources in aqueous and sedimentary environments. However, the role of clays in REE transport and deposition in these settings remains understudied. This work investigated REE adsorption to the clay minerals illite and kaolinite through pH adsorption experiments and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). Clay type, pH, and ionic strength (IS) affected adsorption, with decreased adsorption under acidic pH and elevated IS. Illite had a higher adsorption capacity than kaolinite; however, >95% adsorption was achieved at pH ∼7.5 regardless of IS or clay. These results were used to develop a surface complexation model with the derived binding constants used to predict REE speciation in the presence of competing sorbents. This demonstrated that clays become increasingly important as pH increases, and EXAFS modeling showed that REE can exist as both inner- and outer-sphere complexes. Together, this indicated that clays can be an important control on the transport and enrichment of REE in sedimentary systems. These findings can be applied to identify settings to target for resource extraction or to predict REE transport and fate as a contaminant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan A Bishop
- Department of Geology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Md Samrat Alam
- Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Québec, Quebec G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Shannon L Flynn
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
| | - Ning Chen
- Canadian Light Source Inc., University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0X4, Canada
| | - Weiduo Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life and Environment, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, P. R. China
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Karthik Ramachandran Shivakumar
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Logan Swaren
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Daniela Gutierrez Rueda
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Kurt O Konhauser
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Daniel S Alessi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Leslie J Robbins
- Department of Geology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0A2, Canada
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6
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Mosai AK, Ndlovu G, Tutu H. Improving acid mine drainage treatment by combining treatment technologies: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 919:170806. [PMID: 38350575 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
The mining and processing of some minerals and coal result in the production of acid mine drainage (AMD) which contains elevated levels of sulfate and metals, which tend to pose serious environmental issues. There are different technologies that have been developed for the treatment of wastewater or AMD. However, there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution, hence a combination of available technologies should be considered to achieve effective treatment. In this review, AMD treatment technologies and the possible alignment in tandem of the different treatment technologies were discussed. The alignment was based on the target species of each technology and AMD composition. The choice of the technologies to combine depends on the quality of AMD and the desired quality of effluent depending on end use (e.g., drinking, industrial, irrigation or release into the environment). AMD treatment technologies targeting metals can be combined with membrane and/or ettringite precipitation technologies that focus on the removal of sulfates. Other technologies can be added to deal with the secondary waste products (e.g., sludge and brines) from the treatment processes. Moreover, some technologies such as ion exchange and adsorption can be added to target specific valuable elements in AMD. Such combinations have the potential to result in effective AMD treatment and minimum waste production, which are not easily achievable with the individual technologies. Overall, this review presents combinations of AMD treatment technologies which can work best together to produce optimal water quality and valuable products in a cost-effective manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alseno Kagiso Mosai
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
| | - Gebhu Ndlovu
- Hydrometallurgy Division, Mintek, 200 Malibongwe drive, Private Bag X3015, Randburg 2125, South Africa
| | - Hlanganani Tutu
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, Wits 2050, South Africa
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7
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Colombo F, Fantini R, Di Renzo F, Malavasi G, Malferrari D, Arletti R. An insight into REEs recovery from spent fluorescent lamps: Evaluation of the affinity of an NH 4-13X zeolite towards Ce, La, Eu and Y. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 175:339-347. [PMID: 38241823 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
The constantly increasing demand of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) made them to be part of the so-called "critical elements" indispensable for the energy transition. The monopoly of only a few countries, the so-called balance problem between demand and natural abundance, and the need to limit the environmental costs of their mining, stress the necessity of a recycling policy of these elements. Different methods have been tested for REEs recovery. Despite the well-known ion-exchange properties of zeolites, just few preliminary works investigated their application for REEs separation and recycle. In this work we present a double ion exchange experiment on a NH4-13X zeolite, aimed at the recovery of different REEs from solutions mimicking the composition of liquors obtained from the leaching of spent fluorescent lamps. The results showed that the zeolite was able to exchange all the REEs tested, but the exchange capacity was different: despite Y being the more concentrated REE in the solutions, the cation exchange was lower than less concentrated ones (16 atoms p.u.c. vs 21 atoms for Ce and La solutions), suggesting a possible selectivity. In order to recover REEs from the zeolite, a second exchange with an ammonium solution was performed. The analyses of the zeolites show that almost all of Ce and Eu remain in the zeolite, while nearly half of La and Y are released. This, once again, suggests a possible selective release of REEs and open the possibility for a recovery process in which Rare Earths can be effectively separated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Colombo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| | - Riccardo Fantini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Francesco Di Renzo
- ICGM, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Gianluca Malavasi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Daniele Malferrari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Rossella Arletti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
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8
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Middleton A, Hedin BC, Hsu-Kim H. Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Acid Mine Drainage with Supported Liquid Membranes: Impacts of Feedstock Composition for Extraction Performance. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:2998-3006. [PMID: 38287223 PMCID: PMC10868582 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD) from inactive coal mines can be enriched in rare earth elements (REEs) and has gained much attention as an alternative source for these technology-critical metals. However, AMD is a relatively low-grade REE resource in which the abundance of impurities and the composition variability of the feedstock create major uncertainties for the performance of REE extraction technologies. This study sought to identify AMD feedstock variables that influence the extraction efficiency of REEs by supported liquid membranes (SLMs). SLM separation is a process involving a hydrophobic membrane embedded with an extracting solvent that facilitates the selective extraction of REE ions. The major aims were to (1) assess the effectiveness of SLM-based REE separation from several AMD samples representing a spectrum of aqueous composition, (2) determine the effects of AMD storage and holding time on extraction performance, and (3) assess the impact of AMD pretreatment (e.g., filtration and pH adjustment) on REE recovery. The results showed that relative extraction fluxes of REE correlated with AMD characteristics such as pH and major ions such as Fe, Ca, and Mn. The purity of the acid strippant product, expressed as the REE dry weight content, depended on the initial REE concentrations in the AMD source rather than the flux of individual REEs across the membrane. For AMD samples stored for 3 months prior to extraction, REE recovery by SLM separations was substantially decreased if oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III) was observed during sample storage. Pretreatment of AMD feedstocks by pH adjustment did not substantially improve the separation performance. Overall, this study establishes primary water quality parameters of AMD that influence the SLM separation flux and product purity. Such insights contribute to a mechanistic understanding of critical metals extractions by SLM for complex and nontraditional feedstocks such as AMD wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Middleton
- Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Box 90287, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Benjamin C. Hedin
- Hedin
Environmental, 195 Castle
Shannon Blvd., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15228, United States
| | - Heileen Hsu-Kim
- Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Box 90287, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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9
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Hedin BC, Stuckman MY, Cravotta CA, Lopano CL, Capo RC. Determination and prediction of micro scale rare earth element geochemical associations in mine drainage treatment wastes. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 346:140475. [PMID: 37898468 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD) has been proposed as a novel source of rare earth elements (REE), a group of elements that includes critical metals for clean energy and modern technologies. REE are sequestered in the Fe-Al-Mn-rich precipitates produced during the treatment of AMD. These AMD solids are typically managed as waste but could be a REE source. Here, results from AMD solids characterization and geochemical modeling are presented to determine the minerals/solid phases that are enriched in REE and identify the mechanism(s) of REE attenuation. AMD solids collected from limestone-based AMD treatment systems were subjected to sequential extraction and synchrotron microprobe analyses to characterize the binding nature of the REE. The results of these analyses indicated REEs were mainly associated with Al or Mn phases. Only selected REE (Gd, Dy) were associated with Fe phases, which were less abundant than Al and Mn phases in analyzed samples. The sequential extractions demonstrated that acidic and/or reducing extractions effectively mobilize REE from the AMD solids evaluated. The observed element associations in solids are consistent with geochemical model results that indicate dissolved REE can be effectively attenuated by adsorption on freshly precipitated Fe, Al, and Mn oxides/hydroxides. The model, which simulates dissolution of CaCO3 and the precipitation of Fe, Al, and Mn oxides with increased pH, accurately predicts the pH dependent accumulation of dissolved REE with Al, Mn, and Fe oxides/hydroxides in the studied AMD treatment systems. The methods and results presented here can be used to identify conditions favorable for accumulation of REE-enriched AMD solids and possible passive or active treatment(s) to extract REE from AMD. This information can be used to design AMD treatment systems for the recovery of REE and is an opportunity to transform the challenges of addressing polluted mine drainage into an environmental and economic asset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin C Hedin
- Department of Geology and Environmental Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, United States; Hedin Environmental, Inc., 195 Castle Shannon Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA, 15228, United States.
| | - Mengling Y Stuckman
- National Energy Technology Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, P.O. Box 10940, Pittsburgh, PA, 15236-0940, United States; National Energy Technology Laboratory Support Contractor, 626 Cochrans Mill Rd, Pittsburgh, PA, 15263, United States
| | - Charles A Cravotta
- U.S. Geological Survey, 215 Limekiln Rd, New Cumberland, PA, 17070, United States
| | - Christina L Lopano
- National Energy Technology Laboratory Support Contractor, 626 Cochrans Mill Rd, Pittsburgh, PA, 15263, United States
| | - Rosemary C Capo
- Department of Geology and Environmental Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, United States
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10
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Moreno-González R, Cánovas CR, Millán-Becerro R, León R, Olías M. High-resolution temporal monitoring of rare earth elements in acidic drainages from an abandoned sulphide mine (iberian pyrite belt, Spain). CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 344:140297. [PMID: 37783356 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REE) are strategic elements due to their economic importance. However, the studies dedicated to the distribution and behaviour of REE in aquatic systems have been scarce until a few decades ago. This work studies the seasonal variations of REE concentrations in acid mine drainage (AMD) affected water courses and the factors controlling their mobility under different hydrological conditions. To address this issue, a high-resolution sampling was performed for two years in selected sampling sites. REE concentrations were very high (median values of 2.7-3.4 mg/L, maximum of 7.0 mg/L). These values are several orders of magnitude higher than those found in natural waters, highlighting the importance of AMD processes on the release of REE to the hydrosphere. No good correlations were found between pH and REE concentration, while REE correlated positively (r Spearman coefficient of 0.78-0.94) with EC and negatively (r -0.88 to -0.90) with discharge in AMD-affected streams. A conservative behaviour of REE was observed due to the strongly acidic conditions observed in the study area. The waters also showed an enrichment in MREEs over LREEs and HREEs (mean values of GdN/LaN>1.8 and YbN/GdN < 0.7), typical of AMD waters. An asymmetry in the content of LREE and HREE was observed in AMD samples studied, which could be explained by the preferential dissolution of LREE or HREE-enriched minerals within each waste heaps. Multivariate analysis suggests the influence of Mn-rich minerals existent in the study area as a potential source of LREE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raúl Moreno-González
- Department of Earth Sciences, Drone Service, Institute for Marine Research (INMAR), University of Cadiz, Campus Rio San Pedro, S/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Spain.
| | - Carlos Ruiz Cánovas
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment. University of Huelva, Campus "El Carmen", E-21071, Huelva, Spain
| | - Ricardo Millán-Becerro
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment. University of Huelva, Campus "El Carmen", E-21071, Huelva, Spain
| | - Rafael León
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment. University of Huelva, Campus "El Carmen", E-21071, Huelva, Spain
| | - Manuel Olías
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment. University of Huelva, Campus "El Carmen", E-21071, Huelva, Spain
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11
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Jiménez Beltrán J, Marazuela MÁ, Baquedano C, Martínez-León J, Sanchez Navarro JÁ, Cruz-Pérez N, Santamarta JC, García-Gil A. The genesis of an extremely acidic perched aquifer within roasted pyrite waste in a fully urbanized area (Zaragoza, Spain). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:165293. [PMID: 37414188 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Contaminated groundwater is a serious problem in developed countries. The abandonment of industrial waste may lead to acid drainage affecting groundwater and severely impacting the environment and urban infrastructure. We examined the hydrogeology and hydrochemistry of an urban area in Almozara (Zaragoza, Spain); built over an old industrial zone, with pyrite roasting waste deposits, there were acid drainage problems in underground car parks. Drilling and piezometer construction, and groundwater samples revealed the existence of a perched aquifer within old sulfide mill tailings, where the building basements interrupted groundwater flow, leading to a water stagnation zone that reached extreme acidity values (pH < 2). A groundwater flow reactive transport model was developed using PHAST to reproduce flow and groundwater chemistry, in order to be used as a predictive tool for guiding remediation actions. The model reproduced the measured groundwater chemistry by simulating the kinetically controlled pyrite and portlandite dissolution. The model predicts that an extreme acidity front (pH < 2), coincident with the Fe (III) pyrite oxidation mechanism taking dominance, is propagating by 30 m/year if constant flow is assumed. The incomplete dissolution of residual pyrite (up to 18 % dissolved) predicted by the model indicates that the acid drainage is limited by the flow regime rather than sulfide availability. The installation of additional water collectors between the recharge source and the stagnation zone has been proposed, together with periodic pumping of the stagnation zone. The study findings are expected to serve as a useful background for the assessment of acid drainage in urban areas, since urbanization of old industrial land is rapidly increasing worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Jiménez Beltrán
- Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME-CSIC), Spanish National Research Council, C/Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid. Spain; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Zaragoza, c/ Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Marazuela
- Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME-CSIC), Spanish National Research Council, C/Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid. Spain
| | - Carlos Baquedano
- Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME-CSIC), Spanish National Research Council, C/Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid. Spain
| | - Jorge Martínez-León
- Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME-CSIC), Spanish National Research Council, C/Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid. Spain
| | | | - Noelia Cruz-Pérez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Agraria y del Medio Natural, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), La Laguna (Tenerife), C/ Pedro Herrera, s/n, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Juan C Santamarta
- Departamento de Ingeniería Agraria y del Medio Natural, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), La Laguna (Tenerife), C/ Pedro Herrera, s/n, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Alejandro García-Gil
- Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME-CSIC), Spanish National Research Council, C/Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid. Spain.
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12
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Zhang M, Huang C, Ni J, Yue S. Global trends and future prospects of acid mine drainage research. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:109233-109249. [PMID: 37770736 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30059-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
The uncontrolled release of acid mine drainage (AMD) results in the ongoing deterioration of groundwater and surface water, along with harmful impacts on aquatic ecosystems and surrounding habitats. This study employed a bibliometric analysis to examine research activities and trends related to AMD from 1991 to 2021. The analysis demonstrated a consistent growth in AMD research over the years, with a notable surge in the number of publications starting from 2014. Applied Geochemistry and Science of the Total Environment emerged as the top two extensively published journals in the field of AMD research. The USA held a prominent position, achieving the highest h-index (96) and central value (0.36) among 111 countries/territories, with China and Spain following closely behind. The author keyword analysis provides an overview of the main focuses in AMD research. Furthermore, the co-citation reference analysis reveals four primary domains of AMD research. Moreover, the prevention and remediation of AMD, including source prevention and migration control, as well as the hazards posed by heavy metals/metalloids and the mechanisms and techniques employed for their removal, are discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhang
- Jiangxi Copper Technology Research Institute, Jiangxi Copper Corporation, Nanchang, 330096, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Chang Huang
- Jiangxi Copper Technology Research Institute, Jiangxi Copper Corporation, Nanchang, 330096, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Jin Ni
- Jiangxi Copper Technology Research Institute, Jiangxi Copper Corporation, Nanchang, 330096, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Siyuan Yue
- Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang, 330096, Jiangxi Province, China.
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13
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Li X, Qiao W, Chen D, Wu P, Xie Y, Chen X. Anomalous concentrations of rare earth elements in acid mine drainage and implications for rare earth resources from late Permian coal seams in northern Guizhou. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163051. [PMID: 36966834 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs) have attracted much attention in recent decades due to their growing applications in high-tech industries. Coal and acid mine drainage (AMD) are considered promising alternative sources due to their high concentrations of REEs. Here, AMD with anomalous REEs concentrations was reported in a coal-mine area in northern Guizhou, China. The AMD had a total concentration as high as 22.3 mg/l, suggesting that regional coal seams may be enriched with REEs. Five segments from borehole samples, which contained coal, rocks from the roof and floor of the coal seam were collected from the coal mine site to investigate the abundance, enrichment, and occurrence of REE-bearing minerals. Elemental analysis showed that the REE contents in the coal, mudstone and limestone from the coal seam roof, and claystone from the floor (all dating to the late Permian) varied greatly, with averages of 388, 549, 60.1 mg/kg and 2030 mg/kg, respectively. Encouragingly, the REEs content in the claystone is over an order of magnitude higher than the average content reported in most other coal-based materials. The enrichment of REEs resources in regional coal seams is particularly associated with the contribution of REEs in the claystone that comprises the coal seam floor, rather than just the coal, as considered in previous studies. The minerals in these claystone samples were dominated by kaolinite, pyrite, quartz and anatase. Two types of REE-bearing minerals, bastnaesite and monazite, were detected in the claystone samples by SEM-EDS analysis, and they were found to be adsorbed by a large amount of clay minerals, mainly kaolinite. Additionally, the results of chemical sequential extraction also confirmed that the majority of the REEs in the claystone samples are mainly in their ion-exchangeable, metal oxide and acid-soluble forms, which are viable prospects for REE extraction. Therefore, the anomalous concentrations of REEs and most of them are in extractable phases, which demonstrates that the claystone from the floor of the late Permian coal seam should be a potential secondary source of REEs. Future studies will further consider the extraction model and the economic benefits of REEs from the floor claystone samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuexian Li
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Wenlang Qiao
- 102 Geological Brigade of Guizhou Bureau of Geology and Mineral, Zunyi 563003, China
| | - Deng Chen
- 102 Geological Brigade of Guizhou Bureau of Geology and Mineral, Zunyi 563003, China
| | - Pan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China.
| | - Yixi Xie
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xue Chen
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
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14
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Bhowmik D, Maitra U. A photoluminescence assay with a portable device for rapid, sensitive and selective detection of europium and terbium. Chem Sci 2023; 14:4901-4904. [PMID: 37181768 PMCID: PMC10171180 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc00009e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Rare earth elements are essential in many real-life applications, but their steady supply is being affected by multiple challenges. The recycling of lanthanides from electronic and other waste is thus gaining momentum which makes the detection of lanthanides with high sensitivity and selectivity a critical area of research. We now report a paper-based photoluminescent sensor for the rapid detection of terbium and europium with low detection limit (nM), which has the potential to facilitate recycling processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipankar Bhowmik
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore 560012 Karnataka India
| | - Uday Maitra
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore 560012 Karnataka India
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15
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Ye Q, Jin X, Zhu B, Gao H, Wei N. Lanmodulin-Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles as a Highly Selective Biosorbent for Recovery of Rare Earth Elements. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:4276-4285. [PMID: 36790366 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Recovering rare earth elements (REEs) from waste streams represents a sustainable approach to diversify REE supply while alleviating the environmental burden. However, it remains a critical challenge to selectively separate and concentrate REEs from low-grade waste streams. In this study, we developed a new type of biosorbent by immobilizing Lanmodulin-SpyCatcher (LanM-Spycatcher) on the surface of SpyTag-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) for selective separation and recovery of REEs from waste streams. The biosorbent, referred to as MNP-LanM, had an adsorption activity of 6.01 ± 0.11 μmol-terbium/g-sorbent and fast adsorption kinetics. The adsorbed REEs could be desorbed with >90% efficiency. The MNP-LanM selectively adsorbed REEs in the presence of a broad range of non-REEs. The protein storage stability of the MNP-LanM increased by two-fold compared to free LanM-SpyCatcher. The MNP-LanM could be efficiently separated using a magnet and reused with high stability as it retained ∼95% of the initial activity after eight adsorption-desorption cycles. Furthermore, the MNP-LanM selectively adsorbed and concentrated REEs from the leachate of coal fly ash and geothermal brine, resulting in 967-fold increase of REE purity. This study provides a scientific basis for developing innovative biosorptive materials for selective and efficient separation and recovery of REEs from low-grade feedstocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanhui Ye
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 3221 Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Xiuyu Jin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 3221 Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Baotong Zhu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Haifeng Gao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Na Wei
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 3221 Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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16
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Azizi M, Faz A, Zornoza R, Martinez-Martinez S, Acosta JA. Phytoremediation Potential of Native Plant Species in Mine Soils Polluted by Metal(loid)s and Rare Earth Elements. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1219. [PMID: 36986908 PMCID: PMC10058974 DOI: 10.3390/plants12061219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mining activity has an adverse impact on the surrounding ecosystem, especially via the release of potentially toxic elements (PTEs); therefore, there is an urgent need to develop efficient technologies to remediate these ecosystems, especially soils. Phytoremediation can be potentially used to remediate contaminated areas by potentially toxic elements. However, in soils affected by polymetallic contamination, including metals, metalloids, and rare earth elements (REEs), it is necessary to evaluate the behavior of these toxic elements in the soil-plant system, which will allow the selection of the most appropriate native plants with phytoremediation potential to be used in phytoremediation programs. This study was conducted to evaluate the level of contamination of 29 metal(loid)s and REEs in two natural soils and four native plant species (Salsola oppositifolia, Stipa tenacissima, Piptatherum miliaceum, and Artemisia herba-alba) growing in the vicinity of a Pb-(Ag)-Zn mine and asses their phytoextraction and phytostabilization potential. The results indicated that very high soil contamination was found for Zn, Fe, Al, Pb, Cd, As, Se, and Th, considerable to moderate contamination for Cu, Sb, Cs, Ge Ni, Cr, and Co, and low contamination for Rb, V, Sr, Zr, Sn, Y, Bi and U in the study area, dependent of sampling place. Available fraction of PTEs and REEs in comparison to total concentration showed a wide range from 0% for Sn to more than 10% for Pb, Cd, and Mn. Soil properties such as pH, electrical conductivity, and clay content affect the total, available, and water-soluble concentrations of different PTEs and REEs. The results obtained from plant analysis showed that the concentration of PTEs in shoots could be at a toxicity level (Zn, Pb, and Cr), lower than toxic but more than sufficient or natural concentration accepted in plants (Cd, Ni, and Cu) or at an acceptable level (e.g., V, As, Co, and Mn). Accumulation of PTEs and REEs in plants and the translocation from root to shoot varied between plant species and sampling soils. A. herba-alba is the least efficient plant in the phytoremediation process; P. miliaceum was a good candidate for phytostabilization of Pb, Cd, Cu, V, and As, and S. oppositifolia for phytoextraction of Zn, Cd, Mn, and Mo. All plant species except A. herba-alba could be potential candidates for phytostabilization of REEs, while none of the plant species has the potential to be used in the phytoextraction of REEs.
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17
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Pérez-López R, Millán-Becerro R, Basallote MD, Carrero S, Parviainen A, Freydier R, Macías F, Cánovas CR. Effects of estuarine water mixing on the mobility of trace elements in acid mine drainage leachates. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114491. [PMID: 36566513 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This research reports the effects of pH increase on contaminant mobility in acid mine drainage from the Iberian Pyrite Belt by seawater mixing in the laboratory, simulating the processes occurring in the Estuary of Huelva (SW Iberian Peninsula). Concentrations of Al, Fe, As, Cu and REY in mixing solutions significantly decreased with increasing pH. Schwertmannite precipitation at pH 2.5-4.0 led to the total removal of Fe(III) and As. Subsequently, iron-depleted solutions began to be controlled by precipitation of basaluminite at pH 4.5-6.0, which acted as a sink for Al, Cu and REY. Nevertheless, as the pH rises, schwertmannite becomes unstable and releases back to solution the previously retained As. Moreover, other elements (S, Zn, Cd, Ni and Co) behaved conservatively in mixing solutions with no participation in precipitation processes. Some toxic elements finally end up to the Atlantic Ocean contributing to the total pollutant loads and environmentally threatening the coastal areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Pérez-López
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus "El Carmen", E-21071 Huelva, Spain.
| | - Ricardo Millán-Becerro
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus "El Carmen", E-21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - María Dolores Basallote
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus "El Carmen", E-21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Sergio Carrero
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC), E-08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Annika Parviainen
- Universidad de Granada, Departamento de Edafología y Química Agrícola, Avda. Fuente Nueva s/n, E-18071 Granada, Spain; Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (UGR-CSIC), Avda. de las Palmeras 4, E-18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Rémi Freydier
- HSM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Francisco Macías
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus "El Carmen", E-21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Carlos R Cánovas
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus "El Carmen", E-21071 Huelva, Spain
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18
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Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of phosphogypsum and leaching tests for the prediction of the mobility of trace elements. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:43778-43794. [PMID: 36662430 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25357-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Phosphoric acid manufacturing generates large amounts of phosphogypsum (PG); a by-product generally disposed in the surface or evacuated in the seawater without any pretreatment. Phosphogypsum may host non-negligible amounts of valuable elements such as rare earth elements (REEs), which are critical elements on the global market. Surface disposal of PG may be a sustainable option to allow further processing in order to recover valuable elements. However, surface disposal exposes PG to atmospheric conditions (e.g., water, oxygen) which may increase their reactivity and accelerate the release rate of chemical species. This study aims to evaluate the trace element release rate from PG at atmospheric conditions. The studied PG samples were collected from a Moroccan phosphate treatment plant. The samples were characterized for their (i) chemical composition using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for major elements and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for trace elements; (ii) mineralogical composition by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope equipped with energy-dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and the mineral chemical composition was analyzed by electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS); and (iii) chemical species release rate using leaching tests over 24 h at 25 and 60 °C. Chemically, the PG samples were mainly composed of Ca (23.03-23.35 wt.%), S (17.65-17.71 wt.%), and Si (0.75-0.82 wt.%), and non-negligible amounts of trace elements: REE (344-349 ppm), Cd (3.5-7.4 ppm), U (9.3-27.4 ppm). Mineralogically, the PGs are mainly formed by gypsum (94.2-95.9 wt.%) and quartz (1.67-1.76 wt.%). In terms of chemical species release, the PGs showed a higher reactivity at 60 °C compared to room temperature with a higher release rate at the beginning of the leaching tests. Quantitatively, the PG samples released 3.57-4.11 µg/L/day of REE, 3.18-17.29 µg/L/day of U, and 1.67-5.49 µg/L/day of Cd. Based on the leaching results, we concluded that the trace elements (e.g., U, Cd, REE) are incorporated in PG crystal lattice, which may explain their low concentrations in the leachates. Consequently, total digestion of PG matrix is required to solubilize REE.
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19
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Neumann J, Lessing J, Lee SS, Stubbs JE, Eng PJ, Demnitz M, Fenter P, Schmidt M. Y(III) Sorption at the Orthoclase (001) Surface Measured by X-ray Reflectivity. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:266-276. [PMID: 36562683 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Interactions of heavy metals with charged mineral surfaces control their mobility in the environment. Here, we investigate the adsorption of Y(III) onto the orthoclase (001) basal plane, the former as a representative of rare earth elements and an analogue of trivalent actinides and the latter as a representative of naturally abundant K-feldspar minerals. We apply in situ high-resolution X-ray reflectivity to determine the sorption capacity and molecular distribution of adsorbed Y species as a function of the Y3+ concentration, [Y3+], at pH 7 and 5. With [Y3+] ≥ 1 mM at pH 7, we observe an inner-sphere (IS) sorption complex at a distance of ∼1.5 Å from the surface and an outer-sphere (OS) complex at 3-4 Å. Based on the adsorption height of the IS complex, a bidentate, binuclear binding mode, in which Y3+ binds to two terminal oxygens, is proposed. In contrast, mostly OS sorption is observed at pH 5. The observed maximum Y coverage is ∼1.3 Y3+/AUC (AUC: area of the unit cell = 111.4 Å2) for all the investigated pH values and Y concentrations, which is in the expected range based on the estimated surface charge of orthoclase (001).
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Neumann
- Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, Dresden01328, Germany
- Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Lemont, Illinois60439, United States
| | - Jessica Lessing
- Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, Dresden01328, Germany
| | - Sang Soo Lee
- Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Lemont, Illinois60439, United States
| | - Joanne E Stubbs
- Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago, 929 E 57th Street, Chicago, Illinois60637, United States
| | - Peter J Eng
- Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago, 929 E 57th Street, Chicago, Illinois60637, United States
- James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, 929 E 57th Street, Chicago, Illinois60637, United States
| | - Maximilian Demnitz
- Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, Dresden01328, Germany
| | - Paul Fenter
- Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Lemont, Illinois60439, United States
| | - Moritz Schmidt
- Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, Dresden01328, Germany
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20
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Daraz U, Li Y, Ahmad I, Iqbal R, Ditta A. Remediation technologies for acid mine drainage: Recent trends and future perspectives. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 311:137089. [PMID: 36336014 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a highly acidic solution rich in heavy metals and produced by mining activities. It can severely inhibit the growth of plants, and microbial communities and disturb the surrounding ecosystem. In recent years, the use of different bioremediation technologies to treat AMD pollution has received widespread attention due to its environment-friendly and low-cost nature. Various active and passive remediation technologies have been developed for the treatment of AMD. The active treatment involves the use of different chemical compounds while passive treatments utilize natural and biological processes like constructed wetlands, anaerobic sulfate-reducing bioreactors, anoxic limestone drains, vertical flow wetlands, limestone leach beds, open limestone channels, and various organic materials. Moreover, different nanomaterials have also been successfully employed in AMD treatment. There are also reports on certain plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) which have the potential to enhance the growth and productivity of plants under AMD-contaminated soil conditions. PGPR applied to plants with phytoremediation potential called PGPR-assisted phytoremediation has emerged as an economical and environment-friendly approach. Nevertheless, various approaches have been tested and employed, all the approaches have certain limitations in terms of efficiency, secondary pollution of chemicals used for the remediation of AMD, and disposal of materials used as sorbents or as phytoextractants as in the case of PGPR-assisted phytoremediation. In the future, more research work is needed to enhance the efficiency of various approaches employed with special attention to alleviating secondary pollutants production and safe disposal of materials used or biomass produced during PGPR-assisted phytoremediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umar Daraz
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China; State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yang Li
- Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, Anhui, 232001, China
| | - Iftikhar Ahmad
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad Vehari-Campus, Vehari, 61100, Pakistan.
| | - Rashid Iqbal
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Allah Ditta
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia; Department of Environmental Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal, Dir (Upper) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 18000, Pakistan.
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21
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Jiang C, Li Y, Li C, Zheng L, Zheng L. Distribution, source and behavior of rare earth elements in surface water and sediments in a subtropical freshwater lake influenced by human activities. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 313:120153. [PMID: 36113641 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
As tracers, rare earth elements (REEs) can reflect the influence of human activities on the environmental changes in aquatic systems. To reveal the geochemical behavior of REEs in a water-sediment system influenced by human activities, the contents of REEs in the surface water and sediment in the Chaohu Lake Basin were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results show that the ΣREE contents in the surface water are 0.10-0.850 μg L-1, the ΣREE contents in the sediments are 71.14-210.01 μg g-1, and the average contents are 0.24 μg L-1 and 126.72 μg g-1, respectively. Almost all water and sediment samples have obvious light REE (LREE) enrichment, which is the result of the input of LREE-rich substances released by natural processes and human activities (industrial and agricultural production). Under the alkaline water quality conditions of Chaohu Lake, REEs (especially LREEs) are easily removed from water by adsorption/coprecipitation reactions with suspended colloidal particles, which leads to the enrichment of LREEs in sediments. The Ce anomaly of the water-sediment system is related to the oxidation environment, while the Eu anomaly is related to the plagioclase crystallization. Significant Gd anomalies was observed in the downstream of rivers flowing through urban areas, which was related to the anthropogenic Gd wastewater discharged by hospitals. The ∑REE-δEu and provenance index (PI) discrimination results are consistent, indicating that the sediments in Chaohu Lake mainly come from rivers flowing through the southwest farmland. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of REEs shows that these tributaries are significantly affected by agricultural activities. The distribution and accumulation of REEs in Chaohu Lake are the result of the interaction of natural and human processes. The results can provide a scientific reference for the distribution and environmental behavior of REEs in aquatic environments disturbed by human beings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlu Jiang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China.
| | - Yanhao Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Chang Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Lanlan Zheng
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Liugen Zheng
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
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22
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Tuning charge density in tethered electrolyte active-layer membranes for enhanced ion-ion selectivity. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.121214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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23
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Santofimia E, González FJ, Rincón-Tomás B, López-Pamo E, Marino E, Reyes J, Bellido E. The mobility of thorium, uranium and rare earth elements from Mid Ordovician black shales to acid waters and its removal by goethite and schwertmannite. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:135907. [PMID: 35932924 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have addressed the occurrence of Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) affecting La Silva stream due to the generation of large dumps of Middle Ordovician black shales during the construction of a highway close to El Bierzo (León, Spain). This ARD was characterized by sulphated acid waters with high concentration of heavy metals and anomalies in dissolved thorium (Th) and uranium (U). In the present study, we analyse in depth black shales and water, streambed sediments and precipitates of La Silva stream and its tributaries using different petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical approaches. Black shales, with average Th and U contents of 20 and 3 μg/g respectively contain disseminated detritic micro-grains of high weathering-resistant minerals, such as monazite and xenotime, that present smaller amounts of yttrium and rare earth elements (REY) and other elements as Ca, U, Th, Si and F. Results of the affected waters by ARD show an enrichment in dissolved Th, U and REY of several orders of magnitude with respect to natural waters. Sampled precipitates were mainly schwertmannite (Fe8O8(OH)8-2x (SO4)xO16•nH2O) and goethite (α-Fe3+O(OH)) that showed an enrichment of Th (up to 798 μg/g) and REY, due to the presence of dissolved anionic species (e.g. [Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text] ) that enables their adsorption. Furthermore, these black shales show a clear enrichment in REE (Rare Earth Elements) with respect to NASC (North American Shales Composite) normalized REE patterns. Likewise, normalized REE patterns of stream waters and precipitates clearly show convex curvatures in middle-REE (MREE) with respect to light- and something less than heavy-REE, indicating the trend towards MREE enrichment. These findings are essential to evaluate the impact of ARD of Mid Ordovician shales in the surrounding environment, and to start considering these site as potential source of REE and critical raw materials, activating a Circular Economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Santofimia
- Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME-CSIC), Ríos Rosas, 23, 28003, Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Blanca Rincón-Tomás
- Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME-CSIC), Ríos Rosas, 23, 28003, Madrid, Spain; Georg-August-University Göttingen, Grisebachstr., 8, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Enrique López-Pamo
- Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME-CSIC), Ríos Rosas, 23, 28003, Madrid, Spain
| | - Egidio Marino
- Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME-CSIC), Ríos Rosas, 23, 28003, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Reyes
- Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME-CSIC), Ríos Rosas, 23, 28003, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Bellido
- Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME-CSIC), Ríos Rosas, 23, 28003, Madrid, Spain
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Sun Y, Lu T, Pan Y, Shi M, Ding D, Ma Z, Liu J, Yuan Y, Fei L, Sun Y. Recovering rare earth elements via immobilized red algae from ammonium-rich wastewater. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 12:100204. [PMID: 36157340 PMCID: PMC9500351 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2022.100204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Biotreatment of acidic rare earth mining wastewater via acidophilic living organisms is a promising approach owing to their high tolerance to high concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs); however, simultaneous removal of both REEs and ammonium is generally hindered since most acidophilic organisms are positively charged. Accordingly, immobilization of acidophilic Galdieria sulphuraria (G. sulphuraria) by calcium alginate to improve its affinity to positively charged REEs has been used for simultaneous bioremoval of REEs and ammonium. The results indicate that 97.19%, 96.19%, and 98.87% of La, Y, and Sm, respectively, are removed by G. sulphuraria beads (GS-BDs). The adsorption of REEs by calcium alginate beads (BDs) and GS-BDs is well fitted by both pseudo first-order (PFO) and pseudo second-order (PSO) kinetic models, implying that adsorption of REEs involves both physical adsorption caused by affinity of functional groups such as -COO- and -OH and chemical adsorption based on ion exchange of Ca2+ with REEs. Notably, GS-BDs exhibit high tolerance to La, Y, and Sm with maximum removal efficiencies of 97.9%, 96.6%, and 99.1%, respectively. Furthermore, the ammonium removal efficiency of GS-BDs is higher than that of free G. sulphuraria cells at an initial ammonium concentration of 100 mg L-1, while the efficiency decreases when initial concentration of ammonium is higher than 150 mg L-1. Last, small size of GS-BDs favors ammonium removal because of their lower mass transfer resistance. This study achieves simultaneous removal of REEs and ammonium from acidic mining drainage, providing a potential strategy for biotreatment of REE tailing wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yabo Sun
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, School of Material Science & Engineering, Anhui University, Jiulong Rd 111, Hefei, Anhui, 230039, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials (Anhui University), Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry of Anhui Province, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, PR China
| | - Tao Lu
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, School of Material Science & Engineering, Anhui University, Jiulong Rd 111, Hefei, Anhui, 230039, PR China
| | - Yali Pan
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, School of Material Science & Engineering, Anhui University, Jiulong Rd 111, Hefei, Anhui, 230039, PR China
| | - Menghan Shi
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, School of Material Science & Engineering, Anhui University, Jiulong Rd 111, Hefei, Anhui, 230039, PR China
| | - Dan Ding
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, School of Material Science & Engineering, Anhui University, Jiulong Rd 111, Hefei, Anhui, 230039, PR China
| | - Zhiwen Ma
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, School of Material Science & Engineering, Anhui University, Jiulong Rd 111, Hefei, Anhui, 230039, PR China
| | - Jiuyi Liu
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, School of Material Science & Engineering, Anhui University, Jiulong Rd 111, Hefei, Anhui, 230039, PR China
| | - Yupeng Yuan
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, School of Material Science & Engineering, Anhui University, Jiulong Rd 111, Hefei, Anhui, 230039, PR China
| | - Ling Fei
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA, 70504, United States
| | - Yingqiang Sun
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, School of Material Science & Engineering, Anhui University, Jiulong Rd 111, Hefei, Anhui, 230039, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials (Anhui University), Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry of Anhui Province, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, PR China
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25
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Miranda MM, Bielicki JM, Chun S, Cheng CM. Recovering Rare Earth Elements from Coal Mine Drainage Using Industrial Byproducts: Environmental and Economic Consequences. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE 2022; 39:770-783. [PMID: 36196099 PMCID: PMC9527052 DOI: 10.1089/ees.2021.0378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Coal mine drainage (CMD) impairs tens of thousands of kilometers of U.S. waterways each year, in part with the leaching of low concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs). REEs are essential for modern technologies, yet economically viable natural deposits are geospatially limited, thus engendering geopolitical concerns, and their mining is energy intense and environmentally destructive. This work summarizes laboratory-scale experimental results of a trap-extract-precipitate (TEP) process and uses the mass and energy balances to estimate the economic costs and environmental impacts of the TEP. The TEP process uses the alkalinity and filtering capacity of stabilized flue gas desulfurization (sFGD) material or water treatment plant (WTP) sludge to remediate CMD waters and extract REEs. Passive treatment systems that use WTP sludge are cheaper than those that use sFGD material ($89,300/year or $86/gT-REE vs. $89,800/year or $278/gT-REE) and have improved environmental performance across all indicators from two different impact assessment methods. These differences are largely attributable to the larger neutralizing capacity of WTP sludge in the treatment application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos M. Miranda
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jeffrey M. Bielicki
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Environmental Science Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Soomin Chun
- Environmental Science Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Chin-Min Cheng
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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26
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Li Q, Zhang W. Effects of calcination temperature on the occurrence modes of rare earth elements in coal. POWDER TECHNOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2022.117670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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27
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Abstract
The vulnerability of the rare earth element (REE) supply in a global context of increasing demands entails important economic and political issues, and has encouraged several countries to develop their own REE production projects. This study comparatively evaluated the production of REEs from primary and secondary resources in terms of their sustainability and contribution to the achievement of the Geoethics concept as responsibility towards oneself, colleagues, society, and the Earth system. Twelve categories of potential environmental and social impacts were selected: human health toxicity, global warming or climate change, terrestrial and aquatic eutrophication, acidification potential, particulate matter, resource depletion, water consumption, fresh water ecotoxicity, ionizing radiation, fossil fuel consumption, and ozone depletion. The results showed that the environmental impact of REE production from secondary sources is much lower relative to primary sources. A comparison of conventional and non-conventional REE resources showed that significant impact categories were related to particulate matter formation, abiotic resource depletion, and fossil fuel depletion, which could result from avoiding the tailings disposal before reuse. Based on these findings, governments and stakeholders should be encouraged to increase the recycling of secondary REE sources with Geoethics in mind, in order to balance the high demand of REEs while minimizing the overexploitation of non-renewable resources.
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28
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Tran TN, Do QC, Kim D, Kim J, Kang S. Urchin-like structured magnetic hydroxyapatite for the selective separation of cerium ions from aqueous solutions. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 430:128488. [PMID: 35183829 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this study, bio-inspired urchin-like structured hydroxyapatite (UHdA) and its magnetic composite (UHdA@Fe3O4) were developed for efficient and easy separation of cerium ions (Ce3+) from aquatic waste streams. UHdA and UHdA@Fe3O4 exhibited superior Ce3+ adsorption capacities of 248.39 and 230.01 mg/g-UHdA respectively, compared to a commercial HdA (141.71 mg/g-HdA) due to their hierarchical mesoporous structure and large specific surface area. The adsorption of Ce3+ to UHdA and UHdA@Fe3O4 were heterogeneous, pseudo-second-order-kinetic, and the rate-limiting step was external mass transfer and intra-particle diffusion. Moreover, thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic nature. The high selectivity towards Ce3+ in multi-ionic systems is attributed to the strong affinity between strong Lewis acid (Ce3+) and base (PO43- and OH-) interactions. XRD, FTIR, and XPS analysis demonstrated that the adsorption was mainly attributable to the ion exchange of Ce3+ with Ca2+ and to surface complexation. The desorption of Ce3+ was efficiently accomplished using 0.1 M HNO3. The results suggest that UHdA and UHdA@Fe3O4 could be promising choices for the adsorption and recovery of rare earth elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Nhung Tran
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Quoc Cuong Do
- Chemical & Process Technology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dogun Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon, Jeollanam-do 57922, Republic of Korea.
| | - Junho Kim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seoktae Kang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
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29
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Li Q, Ji B, Honaker R, Noble A, Zhang W. Partitioning behavior and mechanisms of rare earth elements during precipitation in acid mine drainage. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.128563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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30
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Millán-Becerro R, Macías F, Cánovas CR, Pérez-López R, Fuentes-López JM. Environmental management and potential valorization of wastes generated in passive treatments of fertilizer industry effluents. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 295:133876. [PMID: 35131274 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A phosphogypsum stack located in SW Spain releases highly acidic and contaminated leachates to the surrounding estuarine environment. Column experiments, based on a mixture of an alkaline reagent (i.e., MgO or Ca(OH)2) dispersed in an inert matrix (dispersed alkaline substrate (DAS) technology), have shown high effectiveness for the treatment of phosphogypsum leachates. MgO-DAS and Ca(OH)2-DAS treatment systems achieved near total removal of PO4, F, Fe, Zn, Al, Cr, Cd, U, and As, with initial reactive mass:volume of leachate treated ratios of 3.98 g/L and 6.35 g/L, respectively. The precipitation of phosphate (i.e., brushite, cattiite, fluorapatite, struvite and Mn3Zn(PO4)2·2H2O) and sulfate (i.e., despujolsite and gypsum) minerals could control the solubility of contaminants during the treatments. Therefore, the hazardousness of these wastes must be accurately assessed in order to be properly managed, avoiding potential environmental impacts. For this purpose, two standardized leaching tests (EN-12457-2 from the European Union and TCLP from the United States) were performed. According to European Union (EN-12457-2) regulation, some wastes recovered from DAS treatments should be classified as hazardous wastes because of the high concentrations of SO4 or Sb that are leached. However, according to United States (US EPA-TCLP) legislation, all DAS wastes are designated as non-hazardous wastes. Moreover, the solids generated in the DAS systems could constitute a promising secondary source of calcite and/or P. This research could contribute to worldwide suitable waste management for the fertilizer industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Millán-Becerro
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus 'El Carmen', 21071, Huelva, Spain.
| | - Francisco Macías
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus 'El Carmen', 21071, Huelva, Spain
| | - Carlos R Cánovas
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus 'El Carmen', 21071, Huelva, Spain
| | - Rafael Pérez-López
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus 'El Carmen', 21071, Huelva, Spain
| | - José M Fuentes-López
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus 'El Carmen', 21071, Huelva, Spain
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31
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Stoy L, Kulkarni Y, Huang CH. Optimization of Iron Removal in the Recovery of Rare-Earth Elements from Coal Fly Ash Using a Recyclable Ionic Liquid. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:5150-5160. [PMID: 35380811 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c08552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Rare-earth elements (REEs) are essential for modern technologies, and the United States currently lacks a secure domestic supply. Coal combustion residuals, specifically coal fly ash (CFA), can be a potential source. Our previous work demonstrated that REEs could be preferentially extracted from CFA using the ionic liquid (IL) betainium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Hbet][Tf2N]), and the process yielded a mildly acidic REE-rich solution with coextracted Fe and regenerated IL. In this study, we investigated three strategies to limit Fe coextraction: magnetic separation, complexing salts, and ascorbic acid (AA) reduction. Magnetic separation of CFA was ineffective in significantly lowering the Fe content in the IL phase. When NaCl was used instead of NaNO3 during extraction, chloride complexation lowered iron distribution to the IL phase over the aqueous phase (DFe) by five folds, from ∼75 to ∼14, while REE leaching (LREEs) and recovery (RREEs) both increased. Using AA for iron reduction lowered the overall amount of Fe extracted and further decreased DFe to ∼0.16, effectively shifting Fe preference from the IL phase to the aqueous phase. Combining the strategies of NaCl, AA, and supplemental betaine addition, leaching and extraction of REEs from CFA by [Hbet][Tf2N] were achieved in higher efficiency for REE recovery with minimized Fe concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Stoy
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Yamini Kulkarni
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Ching-Hua Huang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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32
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Hermassi M, Granados M, Valderrama C, Ayora C, Cortina JL. Recovery of rare earth elements from acidic mine waters: An unknown secondary resource. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 810:152258. [PMID: 34896513 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Acidic mine Drainage (AMD) is still considered one of the greatest mining sustainability challenges due to the large volumes of wastes generated and the high associated treatment cost. New regulation initiatives on sustainable development, circular economy and the need for strategic elements as Rare Earth Elements (REE) may overcome the traditional research initiatives directed to developing low cost treatment options and to develop research initiatives to identify the potential benefit of considering such AMD as a potential secondary resource. As an example, this study develops the integration of a three-stage process where REE are selectively separated from base metals (e.g. Fe, Al, Mn, Ca, Mg, Cd, Pb) and then concentrate to produce a rich REE by-product recovered as REE-phosphates. Selective separation of Fe (>99%) was achieved by total oxidation to Fe(III) and subsequent precipitation as schwertmannite at pH 3,6 ± 0.2. REE were then extracted from AMD using a sulfonic ion-exchange resin to produce concentrated REE sulfuric solutions up to 0.25 gREE/L. In a final stage selective separation of REE from Al(III), Ca(II) and Mg(II) and transitions elements (Cu, Zn, Ni) was achieved by precipitation with phosphate solutions under optimized pH control and total phosphate concentration. XRD analysis identified low-crystalline minerals. By using a thermal treatment the presence of PrPO4(s) and Cheralite (CePO4(s)) where Ce is substituted by La and Ca and Xenotime (YPO4(s)) were found as main minerals AlPO4(s) Ca,MgYPO4(s) were also identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Hermassi
- Thermochemical Energy Conversion Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - M Granados
- Analytical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Department, University of Barcelona, V. Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - C Valderrama
- Chemical Engineering Department, East Barcelona Engineering School, Barcelona TECHUPC, Eduard Maristany 10-14 (Campus Diagonal-Besòs), 08930 Sant Adrià de Besòs, Spain
| | - C Ayora
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - J L Cortina
- Chemical Engineering Department, East Barcelona Engineering School, Barcelona TECHUPC, Eduard Maristany 10-14 (Campus Diagonal-Besòs), 08930 Sant Adrià de Besòs, Spain; Water Technology Center CETaqua, Carretera d'Esplugues 75, 08940 Cornellà de Llobregat, Spain.
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Liu H, Guo H, Pourret O, Wang Z, Liu M, Zhang W, Li Z, Gao B, Sun Z, Laine P. Geochemical signatures of rare earth elements and yttrium exploited by acid solution mining around an ion-adsorption type deposit: Role of source control and potential for recovery. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 804:150241. [PMID: 34798751 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Elevated concentrations of rare earth elements and yttrium (REE + Y) in acid mine drainage (AMD) attract worldwide attention. However, the source and control of REE + Y distribution patterns in AMD remain unclear. Water, rock, sediment, and sludge samples were collected from an ion-adsorption deposit site to investigate REE + Y concentrations and distributions. The heavy REE (HREE)-enriched patterns of the AMD resulted from preferential desorption of HREE in the clay-rich sediment strata, from which the REE + Y were ion-exchanged by an in-situ underground leaching process using ammonium sulfate brine. Free ions and sulfate complexes preserved REE + Y patterns and facilitated REE + Y mobility in the AMD leachate system. High concentrations of REE + Y occurred in the AMD, and decreased progressively through nitrification-denitrification and coagulation-precipitation procedures in a water treatment plant. Concentrations of REE + Y were one to three orders of magnitude higher in AMD than those in groundwater, and were negatively correlated (r2 = -0.72) with pH (3.8 to 8.7), suggesting that an acid desorption from minerals contributed the REE + Y to the AMD from the source rock. Normalized REE + Y patterns showed enrichments of HREE over light REE (LREE) and negative Ce anomaly. The distribution patterns were relatively constant for all water samples, despite their huge difference in REE + Y concentrations. This suggested a limited impact of preferential precipitation of LREE over HREE on REE + Y fractionations during neutralization. The potentially recoverable LREE and HREE were calculated to range between 1.12 kg/day and 3.37 kg/day, and between 1.29 kg/day and 3.76 kg/day, respectively. The findings reported in this study lend promise for efficient REE + Y recovery from AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Liu
- School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China.
| | - Huaming Guo
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, PR China.
| | | | - Zhen Wang
- School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China
| | - Maohan Liu
- School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China
| | - Weimin Zhang
- School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China
| | - Zebing Li
- School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China
| | - Bai Gao
- School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China
| | - Zhanxue Sun
- School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China
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Cai P, Cai G, Li X, Chen X, Lin J, Li S, Li Z. Distribution and source determination of rare earth elements in sediment collected from the continental shelf off Hainan Island, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:3062-3071. [PMID: 34382173 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15818-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Contents of rare earth elements (REEs), major elements, and the total organic carbon (TOC) were determined for 152 surface sediment samples collected from the continental shelf off Hainan Island (CSHI). From high to low, the average contents of REEs were as follows: Ce > La > Nd > Pr > Sm > Gd > Dy > Er > Yb > Eu > Ho > Tb > Tm > Tm. The LREEs in the south are more abundant than in the north, which is shown by the higher LREE/HREE values in south than in the north. This resulted higher values for the LREE/HREE ratio in the south than in the north. The mean enrichment factor (EF) could be arranged from highest to lowest as follows: Tm > Sm > Pr > Er > La > Lu > Ce > Tb > Eu > Nd > Yb > Gd > Ho > Dy. The EF indicates that pollution as a result of human activity was more serious in the southeast of the study area than in the north. The factors affecting the REE concentrations in this area include naturally occurring minerals and industrial pollution. Based on the spatial variation of upper continental crust (UCC)-normalized REE concentrations, the CSHI was classified into three geochemical provinces. The sediment of province I was controlled by the Red and Pearl rivers. The composition of the province II is mainly controlled by the Red River and the Pearl River, although some sediments have originated from the South China Sea Island. Province III sediments mainly originated from sources on Hainan Island.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengjie Cai
- Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou, 510760, China
- State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guanqiang Cai
- Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou, 510760, China.
| | - Xuejie Li
- Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou, 510760, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Institute of Geological Survey and Faculty of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jie Lin
- Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou, 510760, China
| | - Shun Li
- Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou, 510760, China
| | - Zhao Li
- Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou, 510760, China
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Costis S, Coudert L, Mueller K, Neculita CM, Blais JF. Behaviour of flotation tailings from a rare earth element deposit at high salinity. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 300:113773. [PMID: 34560467 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Various rare earth element (REE) deposits hosted by carbonatite complexes have been identified in southern (Montviel, Niobec) and northern Quebec (Eldor deposit). During the winter in Quebec, the use of road salts to facilitate transportation on the mine site and/or avoid water freezing during mine operation may be necessary. The sources of salinity can be diverse on a mine site: process water, precipitation, alteration of minerals in the soil. Thus, tailings may come in contact with these salts and react. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of salinity on the behaviour of flotation tailings (Eldor deposit), i.e. the mobility of the elements contained in the tailings under these conditions and the environmental risks involved. For this purpose, leaching column tests were developed. The solutions were deionized water (CW column), NaCl (25 g/L; CS1 column) and CaCl2 (25 g/L; CS2 column). The leachate analysis revealed that the divalent cations (Ba, Cd, Mg, Mn, Sr, and Zn) are more mobile in the presence of CaCl2 (CaCl2 > NaCl > deionized water). The mobility of these elements appears to be governed by the competition with Ca2+ for tailings sorption sites. U and Sc are most mobile in the presence of salts regardless of the applied salt solution, i.e. CaCl2 = NaCl > deionized water. The formation of soluble chloride complexes with these elements could therefore be the cause of this phenomenon. For S, the leaching solution has no impact on its mobility. In conclusion, the presence of salts would tend to increase the mobility of divalent cations present in these residues and enhance their contamination potential. Modeling using PHREEQC software allowed comparison of these results with post-dismantling mineralogical characterization. Both methods showed: (i) total dissolution of fluorite [CaF2], galena [PbS], richterite [Na(CaNa(Mg,Fe2+)5[Si8O22](OH)] and Ba silicate; (ii) precipitation of iron oxides/hydroxides and silicate minerals. However, the modeling was unable to predict the behaviour of carbonate minerals. Further modeling tests involving kinetics should be considered in a future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Costis
- Centre Eau, Terre et Environnement (ETE), Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), 490 rue de la Couronne, Québec, QC, G1K 9A9, Canada.
| | - Lucie Coudert
- Research Institute on Mines and Environment (RIME), Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), 445 boulevard de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada.
| | - Kristin Mueller
- Centre Eau, Terre et Environnement (ETE), Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), 490 rue de la Couronne, Québec, QC, G1K 9A9, Canada.
| | - Carmen Mihaela Neculita
- Research Institute on Mines and Environment (RIME), Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), 445 boulevard de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada.
| | - Jean-Francois Blais
- Centre Eau, Terre et Environnement (ETE), Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), 490 rue de la Couronne, Québec, QC, G1K 9A9, Canada.
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Lu C, Yang B, Cui X, Wang S, Qu C, Zhang W, Zhou B. Characteristics and Environmental Response of White Secondary Mineral Precipitate in the Acid Mine Drainage From Jinduicheng Mine, Shaanxi, China. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2021; 107:1012-1021. [PMID: 34417845 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-021-03355-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The study focuses on the white secondary mineral precipitate and its environmental response formed in acid mine drainage (AMD) at Jinduicheng Mine (Shaanxi, China). The mineral composition of white precipitate was characterized by Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES), chemical quantitative calculation and PHREEQC software. The white precipitate was a kind of amorphous crystal with the characteristics of a fine powder, and its main elements were O, Al, S, F, OH- and SO42- groups. Moreover, by comparing the mole number of chemical elements, the main mineral composition of the white precipitate was closest to basaluminite. The geochemical simulation result of the PHREEQC software verified that the white precipitate was basaluminite. According to the analysis of water quality characteristics of water samples, basaluminite can reduce the ions content in the AMD and enrich Cu, Ni, Mo, Cr and F ions, showing an excellent self-purification capacity of the water body. These results are helpful to improve the understanding of secondary mineral and its environmental response, and are of great significance for the environmental protection and sustainable development of mining area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Lu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, P. R. China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, P. R. China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Technology and Reservoir Protection of Oilfield, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, 710065, P. R. China
| | - Bo Yang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, P. R. China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Technology and Reservoir Protection of Oilfield, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, 710065, P. R. China
| | - Xing Cui
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, P. R. China
| | - Sichang Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, P. R. China
| | - Chengtun Qu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Technology and Reservoir Protection of Oilfield, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, 710065, P. R. China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- School of Geography Science and Geomatics Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, P. R. China
| | - Bo Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, P. R. China.
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Kabuba J, Maliehe AV. Application of neural network techniques to predict the heavy metals in acid mine drainage from South African mines. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2021; 84:3489-3507. [PMID: 34928821 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2021.494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is the formation and movement of highly acid water rich in heavy metals. Prediction of heavy metals in the AMD is important in developing any appropriate remediation strategy. This paper attempts to predict heavy metals in the AMD (Zn, Fe, Mn, Si and Ni) from South African mines using Neural Network (NN) techniques. The Backpropagation (BP) neural network model has three layers with the input layer (pH, SO42- and total dissolved solids (TDS)) and output layer (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn). After BP training, the NN techniques were able to predict heavy metals in AMD with a tangent sigmoid transfer function (tansig) at hidden layer with five neurons and linear transfer function (purelin) at output layer. The Levenberg-Marquardt back-propagation (trainlm) algorithm was found as the best of 10 BP algorithms with mean-squared error (MSE) value of 0.00041 and coefficient of determination (R) for all (training, validation and test) value of 0.99984. The results indicate that NN can be considered as an easy and cost-effective technique to predict heavy metals in the AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Kabuba
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, Private Bag X021, South Africa E-mail:
| | - Andani Valentia Maliehe
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, Private Bag X021, South Africa E-mail:
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Rue GP, McKnight DM. Enhanced Rare Earth Element Mobilization in a Mountain Watershed of the Colorado Mineral Belt with Concomitant Detection in Aquatic Biota: Increasing Climate Change-Driven Degradation to Water Quality. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:14378-14388. [PMID: 34347463 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In the western USA, one legacy of historic mining is drainage of acidic, metal-rich water generated by exposure to oxygen of sulfide minerals in mine workings, referred to as acid mine drainage (AMD). Streams receiving AMD and natural acid rock drainage (ARD) have a low pH, high dissolved metal concentrations, and extensive streambed oxide deposits. Recently, enhanced ARD generation in the Snake River watershed in the Rocky Mountains has been shown to be associated with warmer summer air temperatures, which has been attributed to expanding weathering fronts that promote oxidation due to earlier drying of shallow soils. In mountain watersheds where complex orogeny disseminated minerals throughout the landscape, weathering processes may also mobilize rare earth elements (REEs). We report that in the Snake River REEs are currently distributed in streams at concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 μg/L. Further, analysis of archived sample indicates that REE increases over time are also associated with increased summer air temperatures. In downstream reaches where the Snake River discharges into a water supply reservoir, colloidal and particulate metal oxides are abundant and sorptive processes may influence REE speciation. We also show that REEs accumulate in benthic invertebrates at concentrations comparable to toxic metals associated with ARD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett P Rue
- Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado-Boulder, 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
| | - Diane M McKnight
- Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado-Boulder, 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
- Department of Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado-Boulder, 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, Colorado, 80303, United States
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Hassas BV, Rezaee M, Pisupati SV. Effect of various ligands on the selective precipitation of critical and rare earth elements from acid mine drainage. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 280:130684. [PMID: 34162080 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD) has been of environmental concern for decades but recently found to be a viable source of critical elements including rare earth elements (REEs). Recovery of these elements while treating AMD for environmental compliance improves the sustainability of the treatment process. The precipitation behavior of the REEs and other cations during the AMD neutralization process depends strongly on the solution chemistry, available ligands, and concentration of elements. Several chemicals were used to study the effect of various ions/ligands (i.e., OH-, SO42-, NH4+, CO32-, and PO43-) on precipitation behavior of REEs and other elements from AMD as a function of pH. It was found that only up to 70% of total REEs can be recovered using NaOH at circumneutral pH. (NH4)OH suppressed the precipitation of REEs up to pH 8. The presence of phosphate and carbonate ions in the solution increased the precipitation yield of REEs at lower pH values. Both Na2HPO4 and Na2CO3 were found to increase the precipitation of REEs at pH below 7, as over 85% of REEs were recovered. Calculated saturation indices and speciation diagrams for selected REEs confirmed the experimental data. Considering the elemental recovery values, environmental effects, as well as chemical consumption and cost, a two-step AMD treatment process using Na2CO3 was formulated. Through the proposed process, 90% of the aluminum was recovered in the first step (at pH 5), while 85% of REEs was recovered in the second step (at pH 7) with a significantly high concentration of 1.6%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behzad Vaziri Hassas
- John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Center for Critical Minerals, EMS Energy Institute, College of Earth and Mineral Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Mohammad Rezaee
- John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Center for Critical Minerals, EMS Energy Institute, College of Earth and Mineral Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Sarma V Pisupati
- John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Center for Critical Minerals, EMS Energy Institute, College of Earth and Mineral Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
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Zhang Y, Yan J, Xu J, Tian C, Matyjaszewski K, Tilton RD, Lowry GV. Phosphate Polymer Nanogel for Selective and Efficient Rare Earth Element Recovery. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:12549-12560. [PMID: 34464106 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Demand for rare earth elements (REEs) is increasing, and REE production from ores is energy-intensive. Recovering REEs from waste streams can provide a more sustainable approach to help meet REE demand but requires materials with high selectivity and capacity for REEs due to the low concentration of REEs and high competing ion concentrations. Here, we developed a phosphate polymer nanogel (PPN) to selectively recover REEs from low REE content waste streams, including leached fly ash. A high phosphorus content (16.2 wt % P as phosphate groups) in the PPN provides an abundance of coordination sites for REE binding. In model solutions, the distribution coefficient (Kd) for all REEs ranged from 1.3 × 105 to 3.1 × 105 mL g-1 at pH = 7, and the sorption capacity (qm) for Nd, Gd, and Ho were ∼300 mg g-1. The PPN was selective toward REEs, outcompeting cations (Ca, Mg, Fe, Al) at up to 1000-fold excess concentration. The PPN had a Kd of ∼105-106 mL g-1 for lanthanides in coal fly ash leachate (pH = 5), orders of magnitude higher than the Kd of major competing ions (∼103-104 mL g-1). REEs were recovered from the PPN using 3.5% HNO3, and the material remained effective over three sorption-elution cycles. The high REE capacity and selectivity and good durability in a real waste stream matrix suggest its potential to recover REEs from a broad range of secondary REE stocks.
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Featherston ER, Issertell EJ, Cotruvo JA. Probing Lanmodulin's Lanthanide Recognition via Sensitized Luminescence Yields a Platform for Quantification of Terbium in Acid Mine Drainage. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:14287-14299. [PMID: 34432449 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c06360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Lanmodulin is the first natural, selective macrochelator for f elements-a protein that binds lanthanides with picomolar affinity at 3 EF hands, motifs that instead bind calcium in most other proteins. Here, we use sensitized terbium luminescence to probe the mechanism of lanthanide recognition by this protein as well as to develop a terbium-specific biosensor that can be applied directly in environmental samples. By incorporating tryptophan residues into specific EF hands, we infer the order of metal binding of these three sites. Despite lanmodulin's remarkable lanthanide binding properties, its coordination of approximately two solvent molecules per site (by luminescence lifetime) and metal dissociation kinetics (koff = 0.02-0.05 s-1, by stopped-flow fluorescence) are revealed to be rather ordinary among EF hands; what sets lanmodulin apart is that metal association is nearly diffusion limited (kon ≈ 109 M-1 s-1). Finally, we show that Trp-substituted lanmodulin can quantify 3 ppb (18 nM) terbium directly in acid mine drainage at pH 3.2 in the presence of a 100-fold excess of other rare earths and a 100 000-fold excess of other metals using a plate reader. These studies not only yield insight into lanmodulin's mechanism of lanthanide recognition and the structures of its metal binding sites but also show that this protein's unique combination of affinity and selectivity outperforms synthetic luminescence-based sensors, opening the door to rapid and inexpensive methods for selective sensing of individual lanthanides in the environment and in-line monitoring in industrial operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Featherston
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Edward J Issertell
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Joseph A Cotruvo
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
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Geochemical Occurrence of Rare Earth Elements in Mining Waste and Mine Water: A Review. MINERALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/min11080860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Μining waste, processing by-products and mine water discharges pose a serious threat to the environment as in many cases they contain high concentrations of toxic substances. However, they may also be valuable resources. The main target of the current review is the comparative study of the occurrence of rare earth elements (REE) in mining waste and mine water discharges produced from the exploitation of coal, bauxite, phosphate rock and other ore deposits. Coal combustion ashes, bauxite residue and phosphogypsum present high percentages of critical REEs (up to 41% of the total REE content) with ΣREY content ranging from 77 to 1957.7 ppm. The total REE concentrations in mine discharges from different coal and ore mining areas around the globe are also characterised by a high range of concentrations from 0.25 to 9.8 ppm and from 1.6 to 24.8 ppm, respectively. Acid mine discharges and their associated natural and treatment precipitates seem to be also promising sources of REE if their extraction is coupled with the simultaneous removal of toxic pollutants.
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Moraes MLBD, Ladeira ACQ. The role of iron in the rare earth elements and uranium scavenging by Fe-Al-precipitates in acid mine drainage. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 277:130131. [PMID: 34384166 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The scavenging of soluble metals by iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al) oxyhydroxides is a natural process that occurs in acid mine drainage (AMD). This phenomenon is relevant to the immobilization, transport, and recovery of important natural resources such as rare earth elements (REE) and uranium (U). Furthermore, understanding the players and the reactions that govern the scavenging of REE and U by Fe and Al oxyhydroxides in aqueous systems is fundamental for natural and engineering sciences and for environmental management. In this scenario, the current work investigated the role of iron in the co-precipitation of REE and U when treating effluents by pH neutralization in an AMD system located in Brazil. The research employed water sampling, co-precipitation batch experiments, sequential extraction, X-ray diffraction and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results revealed that the presence and the amount of Fe in the initial solution can influence the REE removal efficiency positively. The effect of the addition of Fe over the REE removal efficiency was irrelevant when the pH of the AMD was raised to values equal to 7-8. The scavenging of U was not influenced by the addition of Fe to the AMD. The sequential extraction results showed that precipitates containing higher amounts of Fe tend to be less labile. The 57Fe Mössbauer spectra revealed that the REE can occupy iron sites in the structure of the amorphous precipitates. The findings of the current study can be extrapolated to other AMD systems and contribute to the development of novel REE recovery and hydrometallurgical techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus Lanna Borges de Moraes
- CDTN, Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Av. Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6.627, UFMG, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP: 31270-901, Brazil; Departamento de Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza de Los Caídos S/n, Salamanca, 37008, Spain.
| | - Ana Claudia Queiroz Ladeira
- CDTN, Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Av. Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6.627, UFMG, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP: 31270-901, Brazil
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Stoy L, Diaz V, Huang CH. Preferential Recovery of Rare-Earth Elements from Coal Fly Ash Using a Recyclable Ionic Liquid. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:9209-9220. [PMID: 34159779 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c00630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Recent global geopolitical tensions have exacerbated the scarcity of rare-earth elements (REEs), which are critical across many industries. REE-rich coal fly ash (CFA), a coal combustion residual, has been proposed as a potential source. Conventional REE-CFA recovery methods are energy- and material-intensive and leach elements indiscriminately. This study has developed a new valorization process based on the ionic liquid (IL) betainium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Hbet][Tf2N]) for preferential extraction of REEs from different CFAs. Efficient extraction relies on [Hbet][Tf2N]'s thermomorphic behavior with water: upon heating, water and the IL form a single liquid phase, and REEs are leached from CFA via a proton-exchange mechanism. Upon cooling, the water and IL separate, and leached elements partition between the two phases. REEs were preferentially extracted over bulk elements from CFAs into the IL phase and then recovered in a subsequent mild-acid stripping step, regenerating the IL. Alkaline pretreatment significantly improved REE leaching efficiency from recalcitrant Class-F CFAs, and additional betaine improved REE and bulk element separation. Weathered CFA showed slightly higher REE leaching efficiency than unweathered CFA, and Class-C CFA demonstrated higher leaching efficiency but less selective partitioning than Class-F CFAs. Significantly, this method consistently exhibits a particularly high extraction efficiency for scandium across different CFAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Stoy
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Victoria Diaz
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, California 90840, United States
| | - Ching-Hua Huang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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Selective recovery of rare earth elements with ligand-functionalized polymers in fixed-bed adsorption columns. Sep Purif Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2021.118472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Integration of membrane technologies to enhance the sustainability in the treatment of metal-containing acidic liquid wastes. An overview. Sep Purif Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2021.118485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Sulonen MLK, Baeza JA, Gabriel D, Guisasola A. Optimisation of the operational parameters for a comprehensive bioelectrochemical treatment of acid mine drainage. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 409:124944. [PMID: 33422754 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bioelectrochemical systems provide a promising tool for the treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD). Biological sulphate reduction powered with electrical energy consumes acidity and produces sulphide, which can precipitate metals. However, the produced sulphide and the changes in pH resulting from the biological processes affect the efficiency and the environmental impacts of this treatment significantly. In this work, the effects of pH and sulphur speciation on the sulphate reduction rate (SRR) and comprehensive AMD treatment were evaluated in two-chamber microbial electrolysis cells at a cathode potential of -0.8 V vs. NHE. The increase of initial sulphate concentration from below 1000 mg to above 1500 mg S-SO42-/L increased SRR from 121 ± 25 to 177 ± 19 mg S-SO42-/L/d. SRR further increased to 347 mg S-SO42-/L/d when the operation mode was changed from batch to periodical addition of sulphate and acidity (363 mg S-SO42-/L/d and 22.6 mmol H+/L/d, respectively). The average SRR remained above 150 mg S-SO42-/L/d even at pH above 8.5 and with the total dissolved sulphide concentration increasing above 1300 mg S-TDSu/L. Operation at pH above 8 enabled the recovery of over 90% of the sulphur as dissolved sulphide and thus assisted in minimising the formation and release of toxic H2S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mira L K Sulonen
- GENOCOV Research Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental. Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Juan Antonio Baeza
- GENOCOV Research Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental. Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Gabriel
- GENOCOV Research Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental. Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Guisasola
- GENOCOV Research Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental. Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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Cánovas CR, Basallote MD, Macías F, Olías M, Pérez-López R, Ayora C, Nieto JM. Geochemical behaviour and transport of technology critical metals (TCMs) by the Tinto River (SW Spain) to the Atlantic Ocean. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 764:143796. [PMID: 33387768 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This paper addresses the behaviour of several technology critical metals (TCMs), i.e., rare earth elements (REEs), Y, Sc, Ga and Tl, in the Tinto River (SW Spain), quantifying their fluxes to the Atlantic Ocean and unravelling the governing geochemical processes controlling their solubility. To accomplish this goal, a high-resolution (2-24 h) sampling was performed during the hydrological year 2017/18. Mean dissolved concentrations of 380 μg/L of REE, 99 μg/L of Y, 15 μg/L of Sc, 9.2 μg/L of Ga and 4.8 μg/L of Tl were found. Most TCMs followed a behaviour similar to that of sulphate and base metals throughout the year, exhibiting a quasi-conservative behaviour due to acidic conditions. However, dissolved Tl concentrations seem to be strongly controlled by Tl incorporation onto secondary minerals and diatoms deposited on the riverbed, especially during the dry season. The remobilization of riverbed sediments led to the transport of significant amounts of TCMs associated with particulate matter, especially Al oxy-hydroxy-sulphates or Al-silicates rather than Fe precipitates (except for Tl and Ga). Around 5.8 t of REE, 1.3 t of Y, 248 kg of Sc, 139 kg of Ga and 138 kg of Tl were delivered annually in their dissolved forms by the Tinto River to the Atlantic Ocean, which constitutes around 0.09% of the dissolved global flux into the oceans of Y, 0.02% of the REE flux, 0.01% of the Ga flux and 0.001% of the Sc flux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ruiz Cánovas
- Department of Earth Sciences and Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus 'El Carmen', Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain.
| | - María Dolores Basallote
- Department of Earth Sciences and Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus 'El Carmen', Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Francisco Macías
- Department of Earth Sciences and Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus 'El Carmen', Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Manuel Olías
- Department of Earth Sciences and Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus 'El Carmen', Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Rafael Pérez-López
- Department of Earth Sciences and Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus 'El Carmen', Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Carlos Ayora
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, CSIC, Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Miguel Nieto
- Department of Earth Sciences and Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Campus 'El Carmen', Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain
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Vecino X, Reig M, López J, Valderrama C, Cortina JL. Valorisation options for Zn and Cu recovery from metal influenced acid mine waters through selective precipitation and ion-exchange processes: promotion of on-site/off-site management options. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 283:112004. [PMID: 33529931 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Acid mine waters (AMWs), generated in the processing of polymetallic sulphides, contain copper and zinc as the main valuable transition metal ions, which are typically removed by liming, due to their great environmental impact. In this context, this work proposes the integration of selective precipitation (SP) and ion-exchange (IX) processes for the separation and recovery of both valuable metals to encourage on-site and off-site management options promoting valorisation routes. Thus, the main objectives of this work were (i) the selective removal of Fe(III) and Al(III), using NaOH under pH control (pH < 5) to avoid the precipitation of Cu(II) and Zn(II) and (ii) the evaluation of a solvent-impregnated resin (Lewatit VP OC 1026, named VP1026) and a cation IX resin (Lewatit TP 207, named TP207) for the sequential extraction of both metal ions from AMW (batch and column experiments). Results indicated that the metallic pollution load was mostly removed during the SP process of Fe(III) (>99%) and Al(III) (>90%) as hydroxylsulphates (e.g., schwertmannite and basaluminite). The metal extraction profiles were determined for both metals from pH 1 to pH 5 by batch experiments, and indicated that the best extraction of Zn(II) was obtained using VP1026, being higher than 96% (pH = 2.6-2.8), whereas TP207 extraction performance was optimal for Cu(II) extraction (>99%) at pH = 3-4. Moreover, in dynamic experiments using a fixed-bed configuration, it was possible to separate and concentrate Zn(II) (concentration factor = 10) and Cu(II) (concentration factor = 40) using VP1026 and TP207, respectively. Overall, the integration of SP and IX processes showed a great potential in the separation and recovery of valuable metals from mine waters to promote a circular economy, based on the management proposal for non-ferrous metallurgical industries. The recovered Zn-rich and Cu-rich sulphuric concentrated streams were theoretically evaluated for further on-site or off-site re-use treatments (e.g., electrowinning, precipitation, crystallization).
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Affiliation(s)
- X Vecino
- Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTECH, C/ Eduard Maristany 10-14, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Barcelona, 08930, Spain; Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Barcelona, 08930, Spain.
| | - M Reig
- Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTECH, C/ Eduard Maristany 10-14, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Barcelona, 08930, Spain; Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Barcelona, 08930, Spain
| | - J López
- Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTECH, C/ Eduard Maristany 10-14, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Barcelona, 08930, Spain; Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Barcelona, 08930, Spain
| | - C Valderrama
- Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTECH, C/ Eduard Maristany 10-14, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Barcelona, 08930, Spain; Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Barcelona, 08930, Spain
| | - J L Cortina
- Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTECH, C/ Eduard Maristany 10-14, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Barcelona, 08930, Spain; Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Barcelona, 08930, Spain; CETaqua, Carretera d'Esplugues, 75, Cornellà de Llobregat, 08940, Spain
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Crawford SE, Ellis JE, Ohodnicki PR, Baltrus JP. Influence of the Anionic Zinc-Adeninate Metal-Organic Framework Structure on the Luminescent Detection of Rare Earth Ions in Aqueous Streams. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:7268-7277. [PMID: 33534542 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c20990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical to numerous technologies; however, a combination of increasing demand, environmental concerns, and monopolistic marketplace conditions has spurred interest in boosting the domestic REE production from sources such as coal utilization byproducts. The economic viability of this approach requires rapid, inexpensive, and sensitive analytical techniques capable of characterizing the REE content during resource exploration and downstream REE processing (e.g., analyzing REE separation, concentration, and purification production steps). Luminescence-based sensors are attractive because many REEs may be sensitized to produce element-specific emission. Hence, a single material may simultaneously detect and distinguish multiple REEs. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can sensitize multiple REEs, but their viability has been hindered by sensitivity and selectivity challenges. Understanding how the MOF structure impacts the REE sensing efficacy is critical to the rational design of new sensors. Here, we evaluate the sensing performance of seven different anionic zinc-adeninate MOFs with different organic linkers and/or structures for the visible-emitting REEs Tb, Dy, Sm, and Eu. The choice of a linker determines which REEs are sensitized and significantly influences their sensitivity and selectivity against competing species (here, Fe(II) and HCl). For a given linker, structural changes to the MOF can further fine-tune the performance. The MOFs produce some of the lowest detection limits (sub-10 ppb for Tb) reported for the aqueous sensitization-based REE detection. Importantly, the most selective MOFs demonstrated the ability to sensitize the REE signal at sub-ppm levels in a REE-spiked acid mine drainage matrix, highlighting their potential for use in real-world sensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott E Crawford
- National Energy Technology Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Rd, Pittsburgh 15236 Pennsylvania, United States
| | - James E Ellis
- National Energy Technology Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Rd, Pittsburgh 15236 Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Paul R Ohodnicki
- National Energy Technology Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Rd, Pittsburgh 15236 Pennsylvania, United States
| | - John P Baltrus
- National Energy Technology Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Rd, Pittsburgh 15236 Pennsylvania, United States
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