Increasing the Sustainability of the Stabilization/Solidification of Potentially Toxic Elements Contained in Tailings from an Active Mine Using a Modified Lime Mortar

Jesús F. González-Sánchez, Georgina Fernández-Villagómez, Alan Ulises Loredo Jasso, José M. Fernández, Íñigo Navarro-Blasco and José I. Alvarez ()
Additional contact information
Jesús F. González-Sánchez: Faculty of Engineering, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Coyoacan 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
Georgina Fernández-Villagómez: Faculty of Engineering, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Coyoacan 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
Alan Ulises Loredo Jasso: Laboratory of Molecular Environmental Geochemistry (IGL-LANGEM), National Autonomous University of Mexico, Coyoacan 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
José M. Fernández: MATCH Research Group, Chemistry Department, School of Sciences, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
Íñigo Navarro-Blasco: MATCH Research Group, Chemistry Department, School of Sciences, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
José I. Alvarez: MATCH Research Group, Chemistry Department, School of Sciences, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-23

Abstract: The use of a modified lime mortar as a binder for the stabilization/solidification of mine tailings presents a promising and sustainable solution for immobilizing potentially toxic elements found in these waste materials compared to cement mortars. The effectiveness of this modified lime mortar in avoiding the mobility of toxic elements, namely lead (Pb) and arsenic (As), in mine tailings has been thus studied. Encapsulating matrices of 1:1 and 2:1 tailings waste/air lime ratios were prepared. Due to the content of potentially pozzolanic compounds in the mine tailings, mainly some silicate phases, 1:1 matrices showed better mechanical strength than 2:1 samples, ascribed to a more intense pozzolanic reaction. SEM observations identified needle-shaped C-S-H structures. The hardened materials showed good endurance against freeze–thaw cycles. The semi-dynamic tank test demonstrated the effective encapsulation of the toxic components due to the use of lime mortars, yielding values of released Pb and As below the detection limit in all instances. Considering the cost-effectiveness, widespread availability, and ease of use, the use of modified lime mortar for the treatment of mine tailings can be recommended to mitigate the environmental impacts of mining activities.

Keywords: solidification/stabilization; mine tailings; lime mortar; encapsulation; arsenic; lead; pozzolanic reaction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/6/2320/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/6/2320/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:6:p:2320-:d:1355113

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().