Effect of soluble salts in electrolytic manganese residue on its geotechnical characteristics

Ting Lu; Zuoan Wei; Shilong Li; Ya Wang; Wensong Wang; Yonghao Yang; Binbin Zheng

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117999

Effect of soluble salts in electrolytic manganese residue on its geotechnical characteristics

J Environ Manage. 2023 Aug 15:340:117999. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117999. Epub 2023 Apr 27.

Authors

Ting Lu¹, Zuoan Wei², Shilong Li¹, Ya Wang¹, Wensong Wang³, Yonghao Yang⁴, Binbin Zheng⁵

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China. Electronic address: weiza@cqu.edu.cn.
³ State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Mountain Bridge and Tunnel Engineering, Chongqing Jiao Tong University, Chongqing, 400074, China.
⁵ School of Management Science and Engineering, Shandong Technology and Business University, Yantai 264005, China.

PMID: 37119633
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117999

Abstract

Electrolytic Manganese Residue (EMR) is a solid waste containing soluble sulfate, discharged by electrolytic manganese industries. The accumulation of EMR in ponds poses a significant hazard to both safety and the environment. This study utilized innovative geotechnical test techniques to conduct a series of tests, investigating the effect of soluble salts on the geotechnical characteristics of EMR. The results revealed that soluble sulfates had a significant impact on the geotechnical characteristics of the EMR. In particular, the infiltration of water leached away the soluble salts, causing a non-uniform particle size distribution and decreasing the shear strength, stiffness, and liquefaction resistance of the EMR. Nevertheless, an increase in the stacking density of EMR could improve its mechanical characteristics and inhibited the dissolution of soluble salts. Therefore, increasing the density of stacked EMR, ensuring the effectiveness and non-obstruction of the water interception facilities, and reducing rainwater infiltration could be effective measures to enhance the safety and reduce the environmental hazard of EMR ponds.

Keywords: Environmental risk; Mine safety; Saline soil; Tailings pond; Waste accumulation.

MeSH terms

Electrolytes / chemistry
Manganese* / chemistry
Salts*
Solid Waste / analysis
Water

Substances

Manganese
Salts
Electrolytes
Solid Waste
Water