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.

成熟细粒尾矿在阿尔伯塔油砂中的积累是一个重大的环境挑战。 尾矿池可释放温室气体，如有机污染物生物降解形成的甲烷。 尾矿池还为有毒污染物进入环境提供了一条潜在的途径。因此，需要新的解决办法来更迅速地补救尾矿池。已知尾矿中的细粘土颗粒形成凝胶状网络，使得固体的沉降和固结可能需要数十年。 快速修复需要使凝胶网络不稳定，通常这可以通过添加化学品来实现，这可能是高成本的，具有潜在的环境影响。 近年来，电动修复技术已被证明是有效的，但该技术难以规模化，并且具有相对较高的能耗。该项目涉及一种新的生物电化学处理工艺用于油砂尾矿的修复的调查和评估。 利用尾矿中天然存在的微生物，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，可以调整生物电化学处理过程以巩固和改变尾矿的物理、化学和生物特性。 在我们的实验室进行的初步结果表明，成熟的细粒尾矿的快速固结可以实现使用该技术在非常低的能耗。 本项目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、化学和生物学特性。