Application of Copper Mining Waste in Radionuclide and Heavy Metal Immobilization

• Published in: Clean : soil, air, water air, water, 2022-01, Vol.50 (1), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Dimović, Slavko, Jelić, Ivana, Šljivić‐Ivanović, Marija, Štirbanović, Zoran, Gardić, Vojka, Marković, Radmila, Savić, Aleksandar, Zakic, Dimitrije
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aqueous solutions; Cadmium; Cobalt; Copper; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Fayalite; Flotation; Functional groups; Grain size; Heavy metals; Immobilization; Ions; Iron silicates; Isotopes; Leaching; Lead; Magnetite; Manganese; Mine tailings; Mine wastes; Mineral composition; Mining; Nickel; Radioisotopes; recycling; reuse; Slag; Sorbents; Sorption; Thermogravimetric analysis; Toxicity; Toxicity testing; Toxicity tests; Zinc
• ISSN: 1863-0650; 1863-0669
• DOI: 10.1002/clen.202000419

Copper slag flotation tailings (CSFT), as the end waste from copper mining, are evaluated for radionuclide and heavy metal immobilization. Characterization of CSFT based on grain size and mineral composition, surface functional groups, pH and electrical conductivity in aqueous media, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), determination of characteristic temperatures in sample melting process, leachability, and toxicity tests is conducted. The screening sorption of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) inactive isotopes from single‐component solutions is performed. The Cd(II) ions show better sorption potential than other ions, with a sorption capacity of 0.08 mmol g−1 at the highest initial concentration. Sorption decreases in the sequence Cd(II) > Pb(II) > Zn(II) > Mn(II) > Ni(II) > Co(II) at all initial concentrations. Although CSFT shows lower sorption capability than synthetic sorbents based on fayalite and magnetite, its inexpensiveness and substantial accessible amount represent great advantages in wider utilization. A preliminary investigation is performed concerning the possible utilization of end waste from copper mining, i.e., copper slag flotation tailings (CSFT) in liquid radioactive waste treatment. CSFT shows slightly lower sorption capability than synthetic sorbents also based on fayalite and magnetite. However, the inexpensiveness and substantial accessible amount represent great advantages in its wider utilization.