Development of functionalized clay-based reactive media for salinity mitigation of potash mine wastes and for reuse as remedial agents

世界上三分之一的钾肥需求是由萨斯喀彻温省提供的，钾肥开采业是推动萨斯喀彻温省和加拿大经济快速发展的核心因素。然而，与此同时，钾矿开采作业正在产生大量的矿山废物。钾矿开采影响环境的负责任管理和修复策略在行业中的需求一直很高，特别是考虑到采矿活动加剧，水消耗率升高以及对地下水，农业土壤和生态受体造成的潜在环境风险。Won Jae Chang（PI），Joyce McBeth（co-PI）和James Dyne（合作者）提出了新的盐度缓解研究，主要集中在开发工程粘土吸附剂，用于同时修复钾碱盐水影响的地下水中的钠和氯。所开发的吸附剂将是高效、具有成本效益和多功能的补救剂，并将推进钾肥开采场地的补救工程策略。Agrium、Mosaic和PotashCorp通过合作研究和专家评审过程，认识到了拟议的工程粘土基吸附剂的显著优势。三大钾肥开采公司将通过国际矿物创新研究所（IMII）支持这项研究。最新的知识，尖端的地质环境工程研究工具，微生物和化学分析，以及基于同步加速器的显微镜分析将结合起来，开发创新的解决方案，用于管理和修复受钾盐影响的场地。该研究与当前的钾肥开采实践直接相关，这使其成为加拿大可持续发展和环境保护的前沿。

One-third of the world's demand for potash is being supplied by Saskatchewan and the potash mining industry is a core element driving the rapid economic development in Saskatchewan and Canada. At the same time, however, potash mining operations are generating a substantial volume of mine wastes. Strategies for the responsible management and remediation of potash mining-impacted environments have been in high demand in the industry, especially considering intensified mining activity, elevated water consumption rates, and potential environmental risks posed to groundwater, agricultural soils, and ecological receptors. Drs. Won Jae Chang (PI), Joyce McBeth (co-PI) and James Dyne (collaborator) propose novel salinity mitigation research that mainly focuses on developing engineered clay-based adsorbents for simultaneously remediating both sodium and chloride in potash brine-impacted groundwater. The developed adsorbents will be efficient, cost-effective, and versatile remedial agents, and will advance remediation engineering strategies for potash mining sites.Agrium, Mosaic and PotashCorp have recognized the significant benefits of the proposed engineered clay-based adsorbents through collaborative research and expert review process. The three major potash mining companies will support the research through the International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII). Up-to-date knowledge, cutting-edge geoenvironmental engineering research tools, microbial and chemical analyses, and synchrotron-based microscopy analyses will be combined to develop innovative solutions for the management and remediation of potash brine-impacted sites. The research is directly related to current potash mining practices, which puts it on the frontline of sustainable development and environmental protection in Canada.