Mineralogical characteristics and release mechanism of arsenic-thallium from As-bearing tailings

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2023.9.8

Abstract

Abstract:

Arsenic (As) and associated thallium (Tl) can be released from As-bearing tailings and enter the surface water and soil environment. It is of great importance to understand the mineralogy and release characteristics of the toxic elements in tailings. In this study, the ore phases and their release mechanisms of As and Tl in As-bearing tailings from a realgar mining area are studied using batch leaching tests combined chemical analysis and mineral phases analysis. The results showed that the release of As and Tl was affected by the phases and speciation of the elements. The main As phases in the tailings were sperrylite and angelellite and they were prone to As release due to weathering. Thallium, as accompanying element, was associated with phases composed of Ca, Mn, Mg minerals, and the release of Tl was controlled by the precipitation and dissolution of these minerals. In the tailings, As mainly bounded to Fe-Mn oxides and organic materials, whilst Tl mainly bounded to Fe-Mn oxides and residual materials. The exchangeable fraction of As increased from 0.29% (before leaching) to 1.67% (after acid leaching); while for Tl it increased from 5.46% to 8.67%. The release of As was enhanced while Tl was inhibited under acidic conditions, which suggested the release of As and Tl in tailings was competitive. The leaching behavior of As conformed to the two-constant equation, indicating the leaching of As was a physiochemical process controlled by many factors. The leaching of Tl, which conformed to a parabolic diffusion equation, was mainly controlled by diffusion mechanisms such as structural incorporation and surface adsorption. In this study, the release characteristics, speciation and mineralogy of As and Tl in As-bearing tailings were clarified, which provided an essential reference of the pollution risk control for As and Tl in As-bearing tailings.

Key words: As-bearing tailings, arsenic, thallium, mineral phase, release mechanism

CLC Number:

LIANG Huizhi, GUO Zhaohui, ZHANG Yunxia, XU Rui. Mineralogical characteristics and release mechanism of arsenic-thallium from As-bearing tailings[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2024, 31(2): 20-30.

Figures/Tables 10

References 55

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元素	w_B/%	元素	w_B/%
As	0.16	Mn	0.018
Tl	0.000 566	Pb	0.005
Ca	22.3	Sr	0.012
Mg	11.2	Al	0.26
Fe	0.21	S	0.038

元素	w_B/%	元素	w_B/%
As	0.16	Mn	0.018
Tl	0.000 566	Pb	0.005
Ca	22.3	Sr	0.012
Mg	11.2	Al	0.26
Fe	0.21	S	0.038

矿物种类		化学式	w_B/%	矿物种类		化学式	w_B/%
Dolomite	白云石	CaMg(CO₃)₂	82.12	Angelellite	砷铁矿	Fe₄(AsO₄)₂O₃	0.41
Calcite	方解石	CaCO₃	4.87	Kaolinite	高岭石	Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄	0.18
Gedrite	铝直闪石	Mg₅A1₂(Si₆A1₂O₂₂)(OH)₂	0.23	Albite	钠长石	Na₂OAl₂O₃6SiO₂	0.17
Sperrylite	砷铂矿	PtAs₂	0.23	Ferritschermakite	铁镁钙闪石	Ca₂Fe₂MgA1₃Si₇O₂₂(OH)₂	0.8
Orthoclase	正长石	KAlSi₃O₈	1.25	Quartz	石英	SiO₂	2.88
Iron	铁	Fe	0.09

矿物种类		化学式	w_B/%	矿物种类		化学式	w_B/%
Dolomite	白云石	CaMg(CO₃)₂	82.12	Angelellite	砷铁矿	Fe₄(AsO₄)₂O₃	0.41
Calcite	方解石	CaCO₃	4.87	Kaolinite	高岭石	Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄	0.18
Gedrite	铝直闪石	Mg₅A1₂(Si₆A1₂O₂₂)(OH)₂	0.23	Albite	钠长石	Na₂OAl₂O₃6SiO₂	0.17
Sperrylite	砷铂矿	PtAs₂	0.23	Ferritschermakite	铁镁钙闪石	Ca₂Fe₂MgA1₃Si₇O₂₂(OH)₂	0.8
Orthoclase	正长石	KAlSi₃O₈	1.25	Quartz	石英	SiO₂	2.88
Iron	铁	Fe	0.09

元素	浸出环境	符合模型	参数
元素	浸出环境	符合模型	a	b	R²
As	pH=3.0	双常数方程	2.754 1	0.242 6	0.997 0
	pH=4.5	双常数方程	2.345 1	0.311 3	0.990 2
	pH=7.0	双常数方程	2.418 9	0.297 4	0.993 4
	pH=9.0	双常数方程	2.445 6	0.294 8	0.993 2
	Fe³⁺浓度:200×10^-6 mg·L^-1	Elovich方程	2.513 2	2.474 5	0.971 9
	Fe³⁺浓度:400×10^-6 mg·L^-1	抛物线扩散方程	0.704 3	0.143 7	0.869 3
	Fe³⁺浓度:600×10^-6 mg·L^-1	双常数方程	-2.603 5	0.389 5	0.917 4
	粒径>0.850 mm	抛物线扩散方程	9.165 5	3.006 2	0.968 7
	粒径0.250~0.850 mm	抛物线扩散方程	8.773 3	3.014 7	0.987 9
	粒径0.150~<0.250 mm	抛物线扩散方程	9.767 2	2.618 0	0.991 8
	粒径<0.150 mm	双常数方程	2.754 1	0.242 6	0.997 0
Tl	pH=3.0	抛物线扩散方程	2.762 1	-0.033 8	0.432 0
	pH=4.5	二级动力学方程	0.158 7	0.467 2	0.138 0
	pH=7.0	抛物线扩散方程	2.017 9	0.021 8	0.302 9
	pH=9.0	抛物线扩散方程	2.757 3	0.014 9	0.383 2
	Fe³⁺浓度:200×10^-6 mg·L^-1	Elovich方程	5.638 9	-0.475 4	0.794 6
	Fe³⁺浓度:400×10^-6 mg·L^-1	Elovich方程	8.459 9	-0.793 9	0.867 4
	Fe³⁺浓度:600×10^-6 mg·L^-1	Elovich方程	10.889 2	-1.072 1	0.859 0
	粒径>0.850 mm	抛物线扩散方程	1.864 7	-0.040 6	0.678 3
	粒径0.250~0.850 mm	抛物线扩散方程	2.262 3	-0.056 3	0.692 2
	粒径0.150~<0.250 mm	双常数方程	0.922 6	-0.078 9	0.537 4
	粒径<0.150 mm	抛物线扩散方程	2.762 0	-0.033 8	0.432 0