Biogeocementation - Biologically Catalyzed reactions to improve the geotechnical properties of tailings deposits******

生物土工水泥——通过生物催化反应改善尾矿沉积物的岩土性能******

• 批准号: 536595-2018
• 负责人: Champagne, Pascale
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Engage Grants Program
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=647085
• 关键词: Biogeocementation; Biologically; Catalyzed; reactions; improve

The mining industry in Canada has an unmet need to improve tailings deposit performance both during mine operation and post-closure. Tailings are the byproducts that remain following the extraction and recovery of valuable minerals from mine operations. These tailings are either backfilled into mine sites, or disposed of in tailings impoundments, such as dams, raised embankments or in rivers, lakes and oceans. With no treatment it can take several hundred years to consolidate these dams, due to the poor water-releasing property of the tailings. The toxic nature of tailings means poisonous chemicals can easily diffuse into the surrounding environment, leaching acidic drainage and heavy metals to groundwater. ****The biogeocementation of tailings, using biologically catalyzed reactions to create rock-like tailings deposits, is an attractive concept because a 'cement' can be formed that is durable enough to improve the mechanical behaviour of the tailings. The current state of research in microbial biogeocementation is technically viable, but additional laboratory 'proof of concept' work is needed to attract funding from industry partners to move to pilot-scale testing.****Research will focus on how microbes responsible for producing the calcite, or 'cement', will survive in tailings dams, how effective they are at cementing the tailings, and the feasibility for utilizing these microbes at a scale seen in tailings dams around Canada. If proven viable, this technology will improve the health of both the public and the environment by reducing exposure time to toxic chemicals. In addition, the carbon footprint of mine operations will be reduced, additional water can be re-used during processing steps, and the safety and stability of tailings facilities will be increased.**

加拿大采矿业在矿山运营期间和关闭后改善尾矿矿性能的需求尚未得到满足。尾矿是从采矿作业中提取和回收有价值的矿物后留下的副产品。这些尾矿要么回填到矿场，要么处置在尾矿库中，例如水坝、高堤或河流、湖泊和海洋中。由于尾矿的排水性能较差，如果不进行处理，可能需要数百年才能巩固这些水坝。尾矿的毒性意味着有毒化学物质很容易扩散到周围环境中，将酸性排水和重金属浸入地下水中。 ****尾矿的生物地质胶结，利用生物催化反应形成岩石状尾矿沉积物，是一个有吸引力的概念，因为可以形成足够耐用的“水泥”，以改善尾矿的机械性能。目前微生物生物地球水泥的研究在技术上是可行的，但需要额外的实验室“概念验证”工作来吸引行业合作伙伴的资金以进行中试规模测试。****研究将重点关注负责生产方解石或“水泥”的微生物如何在尾矿坝中生存，它们在固结尾矿方面的效果如何，以及在尾矿中大规模利用这些微生物的可行性 加拿大周围的水坝。如果被证明可行，这项技术将通过减少接触有毒化学品的时间来改善公众和环境的健康。此外，矿山作业的碳足迹将减少，加工步骤中可以重复使用额外的水，尾矿设施的安全性和稳定性也将提高。**