Gypsum Amendment Induced Rapid Pyritization in Fe-Rich Mine Tailings from Doce River Estuary after the Fundão Dam Collapse
Mine tailings containing trace metals arrived at the Doce River estuary, after the world’s largest mine tailings disaster (the Mariana disaster) dumped approximately 50 million m<sup>3</sup> of Fe-rich tailings into the Doce River Basin. The metals in the tailings are of concern because...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/2/201 |
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| author | Amanda D. Ferreira Hermano M. Queiroz Maira P. Kaneagae Gabriel N. Nóbrega Xosé L. Otero Ângelo F. Bernardino Tiago O. Ferreira |
| author_facet | Amanda D. Ferreira Hermano M. Queiroz Maira P. Kaneagae Gabriel N. Nóbrega Xosé L. Otero Ângelo F. Bernardino Tiago O. Ferreira |
| author_sort | Amanda D. Ferreira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mine tailings containing trace metals arrived at the Doce River estuary, after the world’s largest mine tailings disaster (the Mariana disaster) dumped approximately 50 million m<sup>3</sup> of Fe-rich tailings into the Doce River Basin. The metals in the tailings are of concern because they present a bioavailability risk in the estuary as well as chronic exposure hazards. Trace metal immobilization into sulfidic minerals, such as, pyrite, plays a key role in estuarine soils; however, this process is limited in the Doce River estuarine soil due to low sulfate inputs. Thus, to assess the use of gypsum amendment to induce pyritization in deposited tailings, a mesocosm experiment was performed for 35 days, with vinasse added as carbon source and doses of gypsum (as a sulfate source). Chemical and morphological evidence of Fe sulfide mineral precipitation was observed. For instance, the addition of 439 mg of S led to the formation of gray and black spots, an Fe<sup>2+</sup> increase and decrease in sulfides in the solution, an increase in pyritic Fe, and a greater Pb immobilization by pyrite at the end of the experiment. The results show that induced pyritization may be a strategy for remediating metal contamination at the Doce River estuary. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:53:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4293317a8de469caf8e613ad75320cf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:53:07Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4293317a8de469caf8e613ad75320cf2023-12-11T17:06:31ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2021-02-0111220110.3390/min11020201Gypsum Amendment Induced Rapid Pyritization in Fe-Rich Mine Tailings from Doce River Estuary after the Fundão Dam CollapseAmanda D. Ferreira0Hermano M. Queiroz1Maira P. Kaneagae2Gabriel N. Nóbrega3Xosé L. Otero4Ângelo F. Bernardino5Tiago O. Ferreira6Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture Luiz de Queiroz, University of São Paulo, ESALQ/USP, Av. Pádua Dias 11, Piracicaba SP 13418, BrazilDepartment of Soil Science, College of Agriculture Luiz de Queiroz, University of São Paulo, ESALQ/USP, Av. Pádua Dias 11, Piracicaba SP 13418, BrazilDepartment of Soil Science, College of Agriculture Luiz de Queiroz, University of São Paulo, ESALQ/USP, Av. Pádua Dias 11, Piracicaba SP 13418, BrazilGraduate Program in Geoscience (Geochemistry), Department of Geochemistry, Federal Fluminense University, Outeiro de São João Batista s/n, Campus do Valonguinho, Centro, Niterói RJ 24020, BrazilDepartment of Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry—CRETUS, Faculty of Biology, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Sur, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainGrupo de Ecologia Bentônica, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitôria, Espírito Santo 29075-910, BrazilDepartment of Soil Science, College of Agriculture Luiz de Queiroz, University of São Paulo, ESALQ/USP, Av. Pádua Dias 11, Piracicaba SP 13418, BrazilMine tailings containing trace metals arrived at the Doce River estuary, after the world’s largest mine tailings disaster (the Mariana disaster) dumped approximately 50 million m<sup>3</sup> of Fe-rich tailings into the Doce River Basin. The metals in the tailings are of concern because they present a bioavailability risk in the estuary as well as chronic exposure hazards. Trace metal immobilization into sulfidic minerals, such as, pyrite, plays a key role in estuarine soils; however, this process is limited in the Doce River estuarine soil due to low sulfate inputs. Thus, to assess the use of gypsum amendment to induce pyritization in deposited tailings, a mesocosm experiment was performed for 35 days, with vinasse added as carbon source and doses of gypsum (as a sulfate source). Chemical and morphological evidence of Fe sulfide mineral precipitation was observed. For instance, the addition of 439 mg of S led to the formation of gray and black spots, an Fe<sup>2+</sup> increase and decrease in sulfides in the solution, an increase in pyritic Fe, and a greater Pb immobilization by pyrite at the end of the experiment. The results show that induced pyritization may be a strategy for remediating metal contamination at the Doce River estuary.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/2/201sulfidationpyritelead sulfidesoil remediationchemical immobilization |
| spellingShingle | Amanda D. Ferreira Hermano M. Queiroz Maira P. Kaneagae Gabriel N. Nóbrega Xosé L. Otero Ângelo F. Bernardino Tiago O. Ferreira Gypsum Amendment Induced Rapid Pyritization in Fe-Rich Mine Tailings from Doce River Estuary after the Fundão Dam Collapse Minerals sulfidation pyrite lead sulfide soil remediation chemical immobilization |
| title | Gypsum Amendment Induced Rapid Pyritization in Fe-Rich Mine Tailings from Doce River Estuary after the Fundão Dam Collapse |
| title_full | Gypsum Amendment Induced Rapid Pyritization in Fe-Rich Mine Tailings from Doce River Estuary after the Fundão Dam Collapse |
| title_fullStr | Gypsum Amendment Induced Rapid Pyritization in Fe-Rich Mine Tailings from Doce River Estuary after the Fundão Dam Collapse |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gypsum Amendment Induced Rapid Pyritization in Fe-Rich Mine Tailings from Doce River Estuary after the Fundão Dam Collapse |
| title_short | Gypsum Amendment Induced Rapid Pyritization in Fe-Rich Mine Tailings from Doce River Estuary after the Fundão Dam Collapse |
| title_sort | gypsum amendment induced rapid pyritization in fe rich mine tailings from doce river estuary after the fundao dam collapse |
| topic | sulfidation pyrite lead sulfide soil remediation chemical immobilization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/2/201 |
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