Acid neutralization and metal mobilization in oil sands froth treatment tailings.
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| Title: | Acid neutralization and metal mobilization in oil sands froth treatment tailings. |
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| Authors: | Ferry, Stuart R.1 (AUTHOR) stu.ferry@usask.ca, Abdolahnezhad, Mojtaba1 (AUTHOR) moa245@mail.usask.ca, Lindsay, Matthew B. J.1 (AUTHOR) matt.lindsay@usask.ca |
| Source: | Geochemical Transactions. 11/26/2025, Vol. 26 Issue 1, p1-18. 18p. |
| Subjects: | Acid neutralizing capacity, Oil sands, Chemical weathering, Metals removal (Sewage purification), Mine closures, Tailings dams, Analytical geochemistry |
| Geographic Terms: | Alberta, Canada |
| Abstract: | Acid generation and metal(loid) release are growing considerations for oil sands mine closure in northern Alberta, Canada. Oxidative weathering of pyrite-bearing froth treatment tailings (FTT) has potential to promote acid generation and metal(loid) release. However, the acid-neutralization reactions and their influence on pore-water pH and metal(loid) mobility have not yet been reported. Laboratory column experiments examined acid-neutralization reactions and metal(loid) release for variably weathered (i.e., non-weathered, partially weathered, highly weathered) FTT samples collected from a commercial-scale beach deposit. Solvent-washed and non-solvent-washed splits of each sample were included to assess the influence of residual hydrocarbons. Acidic influent (i.e., 0.05 M H2SO4; pH ~ 1.5) was continuously pumped through each column, and effluent samples were collected for geochemical analysis over time. Effluent pH decreased from ~ 7.0 to 5.5 over the first 5 pore volumes for the non-weathered and partially weathered columns, while gradual pH decreases to ~ 4.5 were observed over the following 30 to 70 pore volumes. Subsequent decreases in effluent pH from ~ 4.5 to < 3.0 occurred over the next 2 to 5 pore volumes for these columns. In contrast, effluent pH consistently remained below 2.0 for the highly weathered columns. We attribute these effluent pH trends to the dissolution of Ca- and Mg-bearing carbonates (pH ~ 6.5 to 6), Fe-bearing carbonates (pH ~ 5.6 to 4.5), Al (oxy)hydroxides (pH ~ 4.5 to 4.0), and silicates (pH < ~ 2). Corresponding increases in effluent concentrations of Fe (< 1 to > 500 mg L− 1), Al (< 0.1 to > 10 mg L− 1), Si (< 0.1 to > 10 mg L− 1), and additional metal(loid)s (e.g., Ni, Zn, V, As) were observed with decreasing pH. Cumulative mass releases (e.g., Ca, Mg, Fe) were greatest for the non-weathered samples and solvent-washed splits. These results offer new insights into relationships between acid neutralization reactions and metal(loid) release that can inform FTT management and reclamation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Abstract: | Acid generation and metal(loid) release are growing considerations for oil sands mine closure in northern Alberta, Canada. Oxidative weathering of pyrite-bearing froth treatment tailings (FTT) has potential to promote acid generation and metal(loid) release. However, the acid-neutralization reactions and their influence on pore-water pH and metal(loid) mobility have not yet been reported. Laboratory column experiments examined acid-neutralization reactions and metal(loid) release for variably weathered (i.e., non-weathered, partially weathered, highly weathered) FTT samples collected from a commercial-scale beach deposit. Solvent-washed and non-solvent-washed splits of each sample were included to assess the influence of residual hydrocarbons. Acidic influent (i.e., 0.05 M H2SO4; pH ~ 1.5) was continuously pumped through each column, and effluent samples were collected for geochemical analysis over time. Effluent pH decreased from ~ 7.0 to 5.5 over the first 5 pore volumes for the non-weathered and partially weathered columns, while gradual pH decreases to ~ 4.5 were observed over the following 30 to 70 pore volumes. Subsequent decreases in effluent pH from ~ 4.5 to < 3.0 occurred over the next 2 to 5 pore volumes for these columns. In contrast, effluent pH consistently remained below 2.0 for the highly weathered columns. We attribute these effluent pH trends to the dissolution of Ca- and Mg-bearing carbonates (pH ~ 6.5 to 6), Fe-bearing carbonates (pH ~ 5.6 to 4.5), Al (oxy)hydroxides (pH ~ 4.5 to 4.0), and silicates (pH < ~ 2). Corresponding increases in effluent concentrations of Fe (< 1 to > 500 mg L− 1), Al (< 0.1 to > 10 mg L− 1), Si (< 0.1 to > 10 mg L− 1), and additional metal(loid)s (e.g., Ni, Zn, V, As) were observed with decreasing pH. Cumulative mass releases (e.g., Ca, Mg, Fe) were greatest for the non-weathered samples and solvent-washed splits. These results offer new insights into relationships between acid neutralization reactions and metal(loid) release that can inform FTT management and reclamation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 14674866 |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s12932-025-00106-1 |
