pH-dependent release characteristics of antimony and arsenic from typical antimony-bearing ores

• Published in: Journal of environmental sciences (China) 2016-06, Vol.44 (6), p.171-179
• Main Authors: Hu, Xingyun, Guo, Xuejun, He, Mengchang, Li, Sisi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antimony; Antimony - analysis; Antimony - chemistry; Arsenic; Arsenic - analysis; Arsenic - chemistry; Environmental Monitoring; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Mining; Models, Chemical; pH-static leaching; pH值; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - chemistry; Typical antimony ores; 地球化学特征; 浸出液; 砷; 碱性条件; 酸性条件; 释放特性; 锑矿石
• ISSN: 1001-0742; 1878-7320
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2016.01.003

The pH-dependent leaching of antimony（Sb） and arsenic（As） from three typical Sb-bearing ores（Banxi, Muli and Tongkeng Antimony Mine） in China was assessed using a pH-static leaching experiment. The pH changes of the leached solutions and pH-dependent leaching of Sb and As occurred in different ways. For the Banxi and Muli Sb ores, alkaline conditions were more favorable for the release of Sb compared to neutral and acidic conditions, but the reverse was true for the pH-dependent release of As. For the Tongkeng Sb ore, unlike the previous two Sb-bearing ores, acidic conditions were more favorable for Sb release than neutral and alkaline conditions.The ores with lower Sb and As contents released higher percentages of their Sb and As after 16 day leaching, suggesting that they are the largest potential sources of pollution. This work may provide key information on the geochemistry of Sb and As in the weathering zone.