Long Term Leaching Behavior of Heavy Metals in Gold Tailings Concrete

Abstract

Abstract: An investigation was undertaken to assess the potential for heavy metal leaching from gold tailings (GTs) when used GTs as fine aggregate for concrete. The leaching behavior in different pH leaching solutions and long-term leaching features of gold tailings concrete were studied. A kinetic model was used to predict the total amount of heavy metal leaching that will occur in next thirty years. The results reveal that the levels of Ba, Cd, Cr, Pb, Mn and Cu in GTs exceed the natural levels of these elements found in Chinese soil. Significantly, the leaching of Ba, Cd, Pb, Mn and Cu is more evident. GTs content shows a positive correlation with the leaching amount of heavy metals, and the cumulative leaching amount of heavy metals drops dramatically after 16 d. Based on 30 years leaching amount prediction, the leaching amount of Pb, Cu and Ba is 2~3 mg/L, while the leaching amount of Cd, Cr and Mn is less than 1 mg/L. These findings indicate that the GTs is sufficiently cured in concrete, thereby reducing the risk of long-term leaching of heavy metals.

Key words: gold tailings, concrete, heavy metal, long-term leaching, kinetic model, forecast

CLC Number:

TU528

LUO Zuoqiu, LI Xiaoguang, ZHANG Kaifeng, FU Wanzhang, TONG Xiaogen, MENG Gang. Long Term Leaching Behavior of Heavy Metals in Gold Tailings Concrete[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2024, 43(10): 3736-3744.

References

[1] 孙旭东, 刘晓敏, 龚裕, 等. 黄金尾矿建材化利用的研究现状及展望[J]. 金属矿山, 2020(3): 12-22.
SUN X D, LIU X M, GONG Y, et al. Research status and prospects for the utilization of gold tailings as building materials[J]. Metal Mine, 2020(3): 12-22 (in Chinese).
[2] 童小根, 张凯峰, 孟刚, 等. 金尾矿复合砂对不同强度等级混凝土性能的影响[J]. 硅酸盐通报, 2023, 42(9): 3231-3239.
TONG X G, ZHANG K F, MENG G, et al. Influence of gold tailing composite sand on properties of different strength grade concrete[J]. Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society, 2023, 42(9): 3231-3239 (in Chinese).
[3] 付万长, 蔡基伟, 史俊礼, 等. 化学与热处理法对金尾矿胶凝活性的激发[J]. 硅酸盐通报, 2020, 39(8): 2542-2548.
FU W Z, CAI J W, SHI J L, et al. Chemical and thermal activation of reactivity of gold tailings as a supplementary cementitious material[J]. Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society, 2020, 39(8): 2542-2548 (in Chinese).
[4] PARTHASARATHI N, RAMALINGA REDDY B M, SATYANARAYANAN K S. Effect on workability of concrete due to partial replacement of natural sand with gold mine tailings[J]. Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 2016, 9(35): 1-4.
[5] 朱建平, 乐红志, 朱俊阁, 等. 黄金尾矿材料及环境属性研究[J]. 硅酸盐通报, 2021, 40(10): 3457-3463.
ZHU J P, YUE H Z, ZHU J G, et al. Research on material and environmental properties of gold tailings[J]. Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society, 2021, 40(10): 3457-3463 (in Chinese).
[6] SHAO H, LIANG K, PENG F, et al. Production and properties of cordierite-based glass-ceramics from gold tailings[J]. Minerals Engineering, 2005, 18(6): 635-637.
[7] 梁国海, 齐志超, 吴健, 等. 黄金尾矿用于生产烧结墙体砖试验研究[J]. 有色金属(矿山部分), 2018, 70(6): 16-19.
LIANG G H, QI Z C, WU J, et al. Experimental study on producing sintered wall bricks with gold tailings[J]. Nonferrous Metals (Mining Section), 2018, 70(6): 16-19 (in Chinese).
[8] 段美学, 闫传霖, 赵蔚琳. 金尾矿焙烧陶粒的制备[J]. 砖瓦, 2014(7): 52-55.
DUAN M X, YAN C L, ZHAO W L. Preparation of gold tailings ceramsite[J]. Block-Brick-Tile, 2014(7): 52-55 (in Chinese).
[9] 周明凯, 王亚婕, 王怀德. 金尾矿高硫选冶尾渣制备发泡陶瓷[J]. 中国陶瓷, 2016, 52(3): 77-81.
ZHOU M K, WANG Y J, WANG H D. Study of foam ceramic prepared by high-sulfur gold ore tailings[J]. China Ceramics, 2016, 52(3): 77-81 (in Chinese).
[10] CABALLERO E, SÁNCHEZ W, RíOS C A J. Synthesis of geopolymers from alkaline activation of gold mining wastes[J]. Ingenieríay Competitividad, 2014, 16(1): 317-330.
[11] 韩彦山, 卢新卫, 武星. 无机酸对金尾矿中多种重金属的去除效果研究[J]. 山东农业科学, 2015, 47(10): 54-59.
HAN Y S, LU X W, WU X. Removal effect of inorganic acid on multiple heavy metals from gold tailings[J]. Shandong Agricultural Sciences, 2015, 47(10): 54-59 (in Chinese).
[12] 战佳宇, 李沙, 聂卿, 等. 基于钼尾矿和金尾矿的多孔建材制品重金属浸出行为及环境影响[J]. 环境化学, 2022, 41(9): 2850-2859.
ZHAN J Y, LI S, NIE Q, et al. Leaching behavior and environmental effect of heavy metals from porous building materials prepared by molybdenum tailing and gold tailing[J]. Environmental Chemistry, 2022, 41(9): 2850-2859 (in Chinese).
[13] 陈帅, 王庆平, 王彦君, 等. 地质聚合物固定重金属离子的研究进展[J]. 硅酸盐通报, 2022, 41(10): 3501-3510.
CHEN S, WANG Q P, WANG Y J, et al. Research progress on heavy metal ions immobilized by geopolymers[J]. Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society, 2022, 41(10): 3501-3510 (in Chinese).
[14] 谢学辉, 范凤霞, 袁学武, 等. 德兴铜矿尾矿重金属污染对土壤中微生物多样性的影响[J]. 微生物学通报, 2012, 39(5): 624-637.
XIE X H, FAN F X, YUAN X W, et al. Impact on microbial diversity of heavy metal pollution in soils near Dexing copper mine tailings[J]. Microbiology China, 2012, 39(5): 624-637 (in Chinese).
[15] 徐青青, 侯东帅, 熊传胜, 等. 海洋和酸雨环境下铜尾矿混凝土离子溶出规律研究[J]. 混凝土世界, 2022(2): 74-78.
XU Q Q, HOU D S, XIONG C S, et al. Study on ion dissolution law of copper tailings concrete in marine and acid rain environment[J]. China Concrete, 2022(2): 74-78 (in Chinese).
[16] 濮阳雪华, 邓汝英, 王春春, 等. 德兴铜矿尾砂重金属在模拟降雨下的淋溶特征[J]. 环境工程, 2019, 37(5): 61-65.
PUYANG X H, DENG R Y, WANG C C, et al. Leaching characteristics of heavy metals from tailings under simulated rainfall in Dexing copper mine[J]. Environmental Engineering, 2019, 37(5): 61-65 (in Chinese).
[17] 周科平, 林允, 胡建华, 等. 大脚岭铅锌尾矿库重金属迁移规律与污染评价[J]. 中南大学学报(自然科学版), 2015, 46(5): 1953-1958.
ZHOU K P, LIN Y, HU J H, et al. Migration disciplinarian and pollution assessment of heavy metal of Dajiaoling tailings reservoir of lead and zinc[J]. Journal of Central South University (Science and Technology), 2015, 46(5): 1953-1958 (in Chinese).
[18] HALIM C E, AMAL R, BEYDOUN D, et al. Implications of the structure of cementitious wastes containing Pb(II), Cd(II), As(V), and Cr(VI) on the leaching of metals[J]. Cement and Concrete Research, 2004, 34(7): 1093-1102.
[19] 王希尹. 固废生产建材中重金属浸出方法研究[D]. 重庆: 重庆交通大学, 2018.
WANG X Y. Study on leaching methods of heavy metals in solid waste production building materials[D].Chongqing: Chongqing Jiaotong University, 2018 (in Chinese).
[20] 杨昱, 杨玉飞, 黄启飞, 等. 废物水泥窑共处置产品中重金属释放pH静态试验研究[J]. 环境科学研究, 2008, 21(6): 52-56.
YANG Y, YANG Y F, HUANG Q F, et al. pH-dependence test study on the release of heavy metals in cement product from co-processing waste in cement kiln[J]. Research of Environmental Sciences, 2008, 21(6): 52-56 (in Chinese).
[21] LI X J, YANG R Z, LI H, et al. Experimental study on solidification and stabilization of heavy-metal-contaminated soil using cementitious materials[J]. Materials, 2021, 14(17): 4999.
[22] LEE D J. Formation of leadhillite and calcium lead silicate hydrate (C-Pb-S-H) in the solidification/stabilization of lead contaminants[J]. Chemosphere, 2007, 66(9): 1727-1733.
[23] 张志红, 陈家煜, 郭观林, 等. 稳定剂协同水泥固化/稳定化重金属污染土壤的工程特性[J]. 环境工程学报, 2017, 11(5): 3172-3178.
ZHANG Z H, CHEN J Y, GUO G L, et al. Engineering characteristics of stabilized contaminated soil with heavy metals by cement and SR[J]. Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2017, 11(5): 3172-3178 (in Chinese).