Bio-electrochemical treatment of mature fine tailings

成熟细尾矿的生物电化学处理

• 批准号: 580240-2022
• 负责人: Roberts, EdwardEPL
• 金额: $ 5.1万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=746922
• 关键词: Bio; electrochemical; treatment; mature; fine

The accumulation of mature fine tailings in the Alberta oil-sands is a significant environmental challenge. Tailings ponds can release greenhouse gases such as methane formed due to biological degradation of organic contaminants. The tailings ponds also provide a potential pathway for toxic contaminants in to the environment. New solutions are thus needed to more rapidly remediate tailings ponds. Fine clay particles in the tailings are known to form a gel like network, so that settlement and consolidation of the solids can take many decades. Rapid remediation requires destabilization of the gel network, and typically this can be achieved by addition of chemicals, which can be high cost with potential environmental impacts. Recently electrokinetic remediation has been found to be effective, however the technology is difficult to scale and has relatively high energy consumption. This project involves investigation and evaluation of a novel bio-electrochemical treatment process for remediation of oil-sands tailings. Biofilms are cultivated on metal or carbon electrodes, using the micro-organisms that are naturally present in the tailings. By selection of suitable electrode materials, and control of the electrode potential, the bio-electrochemical treatment process can be tuned to consolidate and modify the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the tailings. Preliminary results performed in our laboratory have indicated that rapid consolidation of mature fine tailings can be achieved using this technology at very low energy consumption. In this project, we will investigate the impact of the bio-electrochemical treatment on the gaseous emissions, and the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the tailings.

阿尔伯塔省油砂中堆积的成熟细粒尾矿是一个重大的环境挑战。尾矿库会释放出甲烷等温室气体，这是由于有机污染物的生物降解而形成的。尾矿库还为有毒污染物进入环境提供了一条潜在的途径。因此，需要新的解决方案来更快地修复尾矿库。众所周知，尾矿中的细小粘土颗粒会形成凝胶状的网络，因此固体的沉降和固结可能需要数十年的时间。快速补救需要凝胶网络的不稳定，通常可以通过添加化学品来实现，这可能会带来高昂的成本和潜在的环境影响。近年来，电动修复技术被发现是有效的，但该技术难以规模化，能耗较高。该项目涉及一种用于修复油砂尾矿的新的生物电化学处理工艺的研究和评价。利用尾矿中自然存在的微生物，在金属或碳电极上培养生物膜。通过选择合适的电极材料和控制电极电位，可以对生物电化学处理过程进行调整，以巩固和改善尾矿的物理、化学和生物特性。我们实验室的初步结果表明，使用该技术可以以极低的能耗实现成熟细粒尾矿的快速固结。在本项目中，我们将研究生物电化学处理对尾矿气体排放的影响，以及尾矿的物理、化学和生物特性。