Reutilisation of Water Contaminated by Mining Waste for the Encapsulation of Potentially Toxic Elements |
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Authors: | Jorge Suá rez-Mací as,Juan Marí a Terrones-Saeta,Antonio Bernardo-Sá nchez,Almudena Ortiz-Marqué s,Ana Maria Castañ ó n,Francisco Antonio Corpas-Iglesias |
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Affiliation: | 1.Research Group TEP 222 “Materials and Mining Engineering”, Higher Polytechnic School of Linares, University of Jaen, 23700 Linares, Spain;2.Department of Mining, Mechanical, Energetic and Civil Engineering, University of Huelva, 21819 Huelva, Spain;3.Department of Mining, Topography and Structures, University of León (ESTIM), Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 Leon, Spain; (A.B.-S.); (A.O.-M.); (A.M.C.) |
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Abstract: | Mining activities are essential for a population’s development; however, they also produce negative effects such as the production of waste, an impact on flora and water pollution. On the other hand, construction is one of the sectors which is most demanding of raw materials, with one of the main such materials being water. For this reason, this research evaluates the feasibility of incorporating water contaminated by mining waste into ceramic materials for bricks. In this way, the use of water is reduced and, on the other hand, the contaminating elements of the mining water are encapsulated in the ceramic matrix. To achieve this, the clay used and the contaminated water were first analysed, then different families of samples were conformed with different percentages of contaminated water. These samples were tested to determine their physical and mechanical properties. At the same time, leachate tests were carried out to determine that the ceramic material created did not cause environmental problems. The test results showed that the physical and mechanical properties of the ceramics were not influenced by the addition of contaminated water. On the other hand, the leachate tests showed that encapsulation of most of the potentially toxic elements occurred. However, the use of contaminated water as mixing water for ceramics could only be performed up to 60%, as higher percentages would leach impermissible arsenic concentrations. Accordingly, a new way of reusing water contaminated by mining activities is developed in this study, taking advantage of resources, avoiding environmental pollution and creating economic and environmentally friendly end products. |
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Keywords: | encapsulation of potentially toxic elements potentially toxic elements mining-contaminated water mining waste ceramics circular economy sustainability construction materials |
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