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Immobilization of Lead and Zinc in Tailings Sand Using a Stabilizer Synthesized from Granite Sawdust for Mine Remediation

Summary

This research addresses the environmental problem of granite sawdust waste from stone processing and mining tailings containing lead and zinc. Scientists developed a new material called GFAS by transforming granite sawdust into a zeolite-based stabilizer that effectively traps and immobilizes heavy metals in mining waste. This sustainable approach, called waste-treats-waste, reduces the mobility of dangerous metals, protecting soil and water from contamination.

Background

Granite sawdust from stone processing and heavy metal-containing tailings sand pose significant environmental and health threats. Granite sawdust is rich in silica and alumina, providing a suitable raw material for synthesizing zeolite-based stabilizers to immobilize lead and zinc in mining waste.

Objective

To synthesize a zeolite-based stabilizer (GFAS) from granite sawdust using an alkali fusion-hydrothermal method followed by phosphoric acid modification, and to evaluate its efficacy in immobilizing lead and zinc in tailings waste.

Results

GFAS possessed a Na-P1 zeolite structure with a specific surface area of 35.00 m²/g (10-fold increase over raw sawdust) and cation exchange capacity of 57.08 cmol⁺/kg (116-fold enhancement). At 7 wt% H₃PO₄ modification, both Pb and Zn leaching were reduced below detection limits, with immobilization maintained over 30 days.

Conclusion

The granite sawdust-based stabilizer GFAS effectively immobilizes lead and zinc through synergistic physical adsorption, chemical precipitation, and ion exchange mechanisms. This waste-treats-waste strategy provides a sustainable and cost-effective approach for remediation of heavy metal-contaminated tailings.
  • Published in:Materials (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Laboratory Study,
  • Source: PMC12786831, PMID: 41515862
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