Publicaties

Proper management and storage of mine waste, e.g., tailings and waste rock, is one of the main issues that mining industries face. Additionally, there is already an uncountable amount of existent historical mine waste, which may, even centuries after the closure of the mine, still be leaching contaminants into the environment. One solution to minimize the risks associated with the mine waste, with also potential economic benefits, is through the ...

Sulfidic mine waste exposed to oxidizing conditions can generate acidity and leach metal(loid)s into the environment, posing a risk to surrounding ecosystems. In the present study, four sulfidic mine waste samples were investigated using both kinetic and static experiments to determine the acid generation potential and mobilization of metal(loid)s. A long-term resuspension experiment of 821 days was performed to study the effect of oxidation on ...

Waste materials should be seen as potential resources, which can help decreasing the pressure on the primary raw materials sector and the external market dependence within the European Union. A material's passport, where the full characterisation and valorisation routes of (waste) materials can be given is a must to shift towards a more circular approach within the raw materials sector and boost more industrial symbiosis. After construction and ...

Multiple inhibitors are commercially available to mitigate the formation of both scaling and corrosion precipitates. However, the conditions in a geothermal installation are often extreme. This includes high temperatures and high pressures besides the presence of a possibly very saline fluid. In the Balmatt geothermal installation of Mol (Belgium) pressure was kept at 45 bar, which is higher than most other geothermal installations. The ...

Sulfidic mine tailings are potential waste materials from mining and mineral processing, and they can contain a high content of sulfur and metal(loid)s, even after bioleaching. Due to the large amount of tailings waste from historical mining, it is crucial to find alternative methods for utilizing such waste rather than permanent storage in tailings impoundments. One-part alkali-activated slag mortars are promising co-binder systems for the ...

Purpose Although barium (Ba) is a non-regulated element in soil in most European countries, some countries, such as Canada, are adopting quality guidelines for Ba in soil because it can be toxic in high concentrations. The aim of the present study was to assess Ba concentrations and availability in foodplain soils. Methods Besides the determination of total concentrations, a rapid screening of Ba availability with single extractions recommended ...

Sulfidic mine waste can pose environmental and human health risks, especially when it contains high levels of mobile metal(loid)s. To assess the environmental and health risks of mine waste originating from three historic and active sulfidic Pb-, Zn- and/or Cu-mines in Europe, mineralogical and chemical characterizations were conducted in combination with in vitro bioaccessibility tests, sequential extractions and leaching tests. Results ...

An integrated mineralogical and chemical characterization approach was applied to different types of mine waste collected from the ancient Pb–Zn mining area of Plombières. The combination of different methods to determine (pseudo-)total element concentrations, sequential extractions, and quantitative mineralogical analysis provided detailed information on the reactivity of minerals in the waste, as well as the associated metal(loid) release ...

Medium and highly sulfidic tailings are high-volume wastes that can lead to severe environmental damage if not properly managed. Due to the high content of sulfide minerals, these tailings can undergo weathering if put in contact with oxygen and water, generating acid mine drainage (AMD). The moderate-to-high sulfide content is also an important technical limitation for their implementation in the production of construction materials. This paper ...