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<p>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 H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>; 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 &lt; 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 &lt; ~ 2). Corresponding increases in effluent concentrations of Fe (&lt; 1 to &gt; 500 mg L<sup>− 1</sup>), Al (&lt; 0.1 to &gt; 10 mg L<sup>− 1</sup>), Si (&lt; 0.1 to &gt; 10 mg L<sup>− 1</sup>), 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.</p>

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Acid neutralization and metal mobilization in oil sands froth treatment tailings

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月26日

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  • Stuart R. Ferry,
  • Mojtaba Abdolahnezhad,
  • Matthew B. J. Lindsay

摘要

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.