Mobility of rare earth elements in mine drainage: Influence of iron oxides, carbonates, and phosphates

The geochemical behavior of rare earth elements (REE) was investigated using weathering cells. The influence of sorption and precipitation on dissolved REE mobility and fractionation is evaluated using synthetic iron-oxides, carbonates, and phosphates. Sorption cell tests are conducted on the main l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemosphere (Oxford) 2018-05, Vol.199 (C), p.647-654
Main Authors: Edahbi, Mohamed, Plante, Benoît, Benzaazoua, Mostafa, Ward, Matthew, Pelletier, Mia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Contaminated mine drainage
REEs
Sorption cells
Thermodynamic equilibrium calculations
Waste rocks
Weathering cell tests
XANES
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Summary:The geochemical behavior of rare earth elements (REE) was investigated using weathering cells. The influence of sorption and precipitation on dissolved REE mobility and fractionation is evaluated using synthetic iron-oxides, carbonates, and phosphates. Sorption cell tests are conducted on the main lithologies of the expected waste rocks from the Montviel deposit. The sorbed materials are characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with a microanalysis system (energy dispersive spectroscopy EDS) (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) in order to understand the effect of the synthetic minerals on REE mobility. The results confirm that sorption and precipitation control the mobility and fractionation of REE. The main sorbent phases are the carbonates, phosphates (present as accessory minerals in the Montviel waste rocks), and iron oxides (main secondary minerals generated upon weathering of the Montviel lithologies). The XANES results show that REE are present as trivalent species after weathering. Thermodynamic equilibrium calculations results using Visual Minteq suggest that REE could precipitate as secondary phosphates (REEPO4). [Display omitted] •REE are strongly depleted in contact with carbonates, phosphates, and iron oxides.•Sorption/precipitation are significant phenomena, which control the mobility and fractionation of REE.•Sulfides oxidation could increase leaching rate of REE.
ISSN:0045-6535
1879-1298
DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.02.054