title: Recovery and reuse of sludge from active and passive treatment of mine drainage-impacted waters: a review.
abstract: The treatment of mine drainage-impacted waters generates considerable amounts of sludge, which raises several concerns, such as storage and disposal, stability, and potential social and environmental impacts. To alleviate the storage and management costs, as well as to give the mine sludge a second life, recovery and reuse have recently become interesting options. In this review, different recovery and reuse options of sludge originating from active and passive treatment of mine drainage are identified and thoroughly discussed, based on available laboratory and field studies. The most valuable products presently recovered from the mine sludge are the iron oxy-hydroxides (ochre). Other by-products include metals, elemental sulfur, and calcium carbonate. Mine sludge reuse includes the removal of contaminants, such as As, P, dye, and rare earth elements. Mine sludge can also be reused as stabilizer for contaminated soil, as fertilizer in agriculture/horticulture, as substitute material in construction, as cover over tailings for acid mine drainage prevention and control, as material to sequester carbon dioxide, and in cement and pigment industries. The review also stresses out some of the current challenges and research needs. Finally, in order to move forward, studies are needed to better estimate the contribution of sludge recovery/reuse to the overall costs of mine water treatment.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Mines and Environment (RIME), University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada.
authors.forename: Tsiverihasina V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Rakotonimaro
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Mines and Environment (RIME), University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada. Carmen-Mihaela.Neculita@uqat.ca.
authors.forename: Carmen Mihaela
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Neculita
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Mines and Environment (RIME), University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bussière
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Mines and Environment (RIME), University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benzaazoua
authors.affiliation: RIME, Department of Civil, Geological, and Mineral Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, H3C 3A7, Canada.
authors.forename: Gérald J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Zagury
mesh_terms: D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008906:Mining; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Mine drainage; Mine sludge; Ochre; Recovery; Reuse