A Study of Residual Cyanides and Potential Stabilities in Tailings Storage Facility of Gold Mining Operation
The study aimed to investigate residual cyanides and their potential stabilities in tailings from a gold processing plant deposited in the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) of a gold mining site. For this purpose, several samples of tailings were taken from the recently abandoned TSF to a depth of 2....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University
2015-02-01
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| Series: | Applied Environmental Research |
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| Online Access: | https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/saujournalst/www.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/aer/article/view/30867 |
| _version_ | 1811261273376030720 |
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| author | Suwanit Parinyachet Quanchai Leepowpanth |
| author_facet | Suwanit Parinyachet Quanchai Leepowpanth |
| author_sort | Suwanit Parinyachet |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The study aimed to investigate residual cyanides and their potential stabilities in tailings from a gold processing plant deposited in the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) of a gold mining site. For this purpose, several samples of tailings were taken from the recently abandoned TSF to a depth of 2.5 meters, representing 1 to 2 years old tailings. The samples were analyzed for pH, metals, residual cyanides, and Net Acid Generation Test (NAG test). The results showed that, in all samples, pH values were neutral to slightly alkaline. Fe concentrations were relatively high (22,800-35,000 mg kg-1) indicating that Fe can readily react with free cyanide (CN-) to form iron cyanide complexes (strong metal cyanide complexes). The residual cyanide concentration in tailings was found to be very low; free cyanide (CNFree), weak acid dissociable cyanide (CNWAD), strong acid dissociable cyanide (CNSAD) and total cyanide (CNT) were in the range of 0.16-0.64, 0.37-1.06, 1.96-3.89 and 2.33-4.95 mg kg-1, respectively. Cyanides in the tailings were predominantly strong metal cyanide complexes being more stable to dissociate. Total cyanide (CNT) concentration was quite low compared with Thailand’s environmental regulations for soil quality standards and were environmentally insignificant. The NAG test for all samples revealed that NAG pH was in the range of 5.02-6.10 and NAG was in the range of 0.08-0.31 kg H2SO4 t-1 indicating all samples have low or non-acid forming potentials. The findings indicated a potential to form a high proportion of strong metal cyanide complexes in the tailings, which is difficult to dissociate and release high toxic cyanide to the environment.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:00:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4fbdbb76cee4e2fa990f6a0b5060aa5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2287-0741 2287-075X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:00:21Z |
| publishDate | 2015-02-01 |
| publisher | Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Environmental Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4fbdbb76cee4e2fa990f6a0b5060aa52022-12-22T03:20:10ZengEnvironmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn UniversityApplied Environmental Research2287-07412287-075X2015-02-01371A Study of Residual Cyanides and Potential Stabilities in Tailings Storage Facility of Gold Mining OperationSuwanit Parinyachet0Quanchai Leepowpanth1Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, ThailandFaculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand The study aimed to investigate residual cyanides and their potential stabilities in tailings from a gold processing plant deposited in the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) of a gold mining site. For this purpose, several samples of tailings were taken from the recently abandoned TSF to a depth of 2.5 meters, representing 1 to 2 years old tailings. The samples were analyzed for pH, metals, residual cyanides, and Net Acid Generation Test (NAG test). The results showed that, in all samples, pH values were neutral to slightly alkaline. Fe concentrations were relatively high (22,800-35,000 mg kg-1) indicating that Fe can readily react with free cyanide (CN-) to form iron cyanide complexes (strong metal cyanide complexes). The residual cyanide concentration in tailings was found to be very low; free cyanide (CNFree), weak acid dissociable cyanide (CNWAD), strong acid dissociable cyanide (CNSAD) and total cyanide (CNT) were in the range of 0.16-0.64, 0.37-1.06, 1.96-3.89 and 2.33-4.95 mg kg-1, respectively. Cyanides in the tailings were predominantly strong metal cyanide complexes being more stable to dissociate. Total cyanide (CNT) concentration was quite low compared with Thailand’s environmental regulations for soil quality standards and were environmentally insignificant. The NAG test for all samples revealed that NAG pH was in the range of 5.02-6.10 and NAG was in the range of 0.08-0.31 kg H2SO4 t-1 indicating all samples have low or non-acid forming potentials. The findings indicated a potential to form a high proportion of strong metal cyanide complexes in the tailings, which is difficult to dissociate and release high toxic cyanide to the environment. https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/saujournalst/www.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/aer/article/view/30867CyanideGold processing tailingsNet acid generation testNatural cyanide attenuationResidual cyanides |
| spellingShingle | Suwanit Parinyachet Quanchai Leepowpanth A Study of Residual Cyanides and Potential Stabilities in Tailings Storage Facility of Gold Mining Operation Applied Environmental Research Cyanide Gold processing tailings Net acid generation test Natural cyanide attenuation Residual cyanides |
| title | A Study of Residual Cyanides and Potential Stabilities in Tailings Storage Facility of Gold Mining Operation |
| title_full | A Study of Residual Cyanides and Potential Stabilities in Tailings Storage Facility of Gold Mining Operation |
| title_fullStr | A Study of Residual Cyanides and Potential Stabilities in Tailings Storage Facility of Gold Mining Operation |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Study of Residual Cyanides and Potential Stabilities in Tailings Storage Facility of Gold Mining Operation |
| title_short | A Study of Residual Cyanides and Potential Stabilities in Tailings Storage Facility of Gold Mining Operation |
| title_sort | study of residual cyanides and potential stabilities in tailings storage facility of gold mining operation |
| topic | Cyanide Gold processing tailings Net acid generation test Natural cyanide attenuation Residual cyanides |
| url | https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/saujournalst/www.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/aer/article/view/30867 |
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