Nothing Special   »   [go: up one dir, main page]
Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

From tailings to soil: long-term effects of amendments on progress and trajectory of soil formation and in situ remediation in bauxite residue

  • Soils, Sec 3 • Remediation and Management of Contaminated or Degraded Lands • Research Article
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Bauxite residue is an alkaline, saline-sodic byproduct of the Bayer process for alumina production. In situ remediation of bauxite residue is a cost-effective management strategy that transforms the residue into a soil-like medium; however, the effects of applied amendments on trajectories and progress of soil formation over the medium-long term are unclear. Here, we investigated how in situ remediation amendments guided the progress and trajectories of soil formation in bauxite residue over 20 years.

Materials and methods

Chemical and mineralogical properties of samples from a field site in Corpus Christi, Texas, were analyzed to compare the effects of three different amendments (sewage sludge, yard waste, and topsoil) on progress and trajectories of soil formation in bauxite residue. Bauxite residue was deposited ca. 40 years prior to sampling; amendments were applied at varying frequencies for 20 years prior to sampling.

Results and discussion

Sewage sludge was the most effective amendment for decreasing pH, EC, and total alkalinity of bauxite residue and increasing plant nutrients and exchangeable cations. Overall soil development is in an early stage; however, incipient soil horizons were identified from differences in chemical and mineralogical properties with depth. Although amendment type influenced the progress of soil formation, it did not appear to influence the overall trajectory of soil formation processes. Soil derived from the bauxite residue parent material is likely to progress from a spolic Technosol to a technic Cambisol and finally either a Ferralsol or Luvisol depending on organic matter dynamics.

Conclusions

Long-term impacts of amendments were consistent with those observed in previous short-term studies, with some outcomes improving further over the long term (e.g., Na+ leaching) and were realized to a depth enabling maintenance of a vegetation cover. These outcomes provide strong support for the use of in situ remediation as an alternative to soil capping that enables transformation of bauxite residue to a soil capable of supporting a self-sustaining ecosystem.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Average pan evaporation data for the period 1981–2010 were not available.

References

  • Alcoa (2002) Affected property assessment report facility 200 and bed 22 landfill. Reynolds Metal Company, Corpus Christi

    Google Scholar 

  • Amlinger F, Götz B, Dreher P, Geszti J, Weissteiner C (2003) Nitrogen in biowaste and yard waste compost: dynamics of mobilization and availability—a review. Eur J Soil Biol 39:107–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burke IT, Mayes WM, Peacock CL, Brown AP, Jarvis AP, Bruiz K (2012) Speciation of arsenic, chromium, and vanadium in red mud samples from the Ajka spill site, Hungary. Environ Sci Technol 46:3085–3092

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen CR, Phillips IR, Wei LL, Xu ZH (2010) Behaviour and dynamics of di-ammonium phosphate in bauxite processing residue sand in Western Australia—I. NH3 volatilisation and residual nitrogen availability. Environ Sci Pollut Res 17:1098–1109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen AF, He H, Dyck MF, Turner EL, Chanasyk DS, Naeth MA, Nichol C (2013) In situ measurement of snowmelt infiltration under various topsoil cap thicknesses on a reclaimed site. Can J Soil Sci 93:497–510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coelho A (2007) TOPAS-Academic v 4.1. Coelho Software, Brisbane

    Google Scholar 

  • Courtney RG, Timpson JP, Grennan E (2003) Growth of Trifolium pratense in red mud amended with process sand, gypsum and thermally dried sewage sludge. Int J Surf Mining Reclam Environ 17(4):227–233

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Courtney RG, Timpson JP (2004) Nutrient status of vegetation grown in alkaline bauxite processing residue amended with gypsum and thermally dried sewage sludge—a two year field study. Plant Soil 266:187–194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Courtney RG, Timpson JP (2005) Reclamation of fine fraction bauxite processing residue (red mud) amended with coarse fraction residue and gypsum. Water Air Soil Poll 164:91–102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Courtney R, Harrington T (2010) Growth and nutrition of Holcus lanatus in bauxite residue amended with combinations of spent mushroom compost and gypsum. Land Degrad Dev 23:144–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Industry, Tourism, and Resources (DITR) (2007) Leading practice sustainable development program for the mining industry—tailings management. Australian Government, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobrowolski MP, Fey MV, Santini TC (2011) Rapid determination of residual alkalinity in bauxite residue. In: Travaux Volume 36, 2011—Proceedings of the ICSOBA Seminar on Bauxite Residue (Red Mud), Mineral Information and Development Centre, Nagpur

  • Eastham J, Morald T, Aylmore P (2006) Effective nutrient sources for plant growth on bauxite residue. I. Comparing organic and inorganic fertilizers. Water Air Soil Pollut 176(1–4):5–19

  • Faiers GE, Keim BD, Muller RA (1997) Rainfall frequency/magnitude atlas for the South-Central United States. Southern Regional Climate Center Technical Report 97-1. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller RD, Nelson EDP, Richardson CJ (1982) Reclamation of red mud (bauxite residues) using alkaline-tolerant grasses with organic amendments. J Environ Qual 11:533–539

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gelencsér A, Kováts N, Turóczi B, Rostási Á, Hoffer A, Imre K, Nyiró-Kósa I, Csákberenyi-Malasics D, Tóth A, Czitrovsky A, Nagy A, Nagy S, Ács A, Kovács A, Ferincz Á, Hartyáni Z, Pósfai M (2011) The red mud accident in Ajka (Hungary): characterization and potential health effects of fugitive dust. Environ Sci Technol 45:1608–1615

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gherardi MJ, Rengel Z (2001) Bauxite residue sand has the capacity to rapidly decrease availability of added manganese. Plant Soil 234:143–151

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gräfe M, Klauber C (2011) Bauxite residue issues: IV. Old obstacles and new pathways for in situ residue bioremediation. Hydrometallurgy 108:46–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gräfe M, Power G, Klauber C (2011) Bauxite residue issues: III. Alkalinity and associated chemistry. Hydrometallurgy 108:60–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gräfe M, Landers M, Tappero R, Austin P, Gan B, Grabsch A, Klauber C (2010) Combined application of QEM-SEM and hard X-ray microscopy to determine mineralogical associations and chemical speciation of trace metals. J Environ Qual 40:767–783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes SM, Root RA, Perdrial N, Maier RM, Chorover J (2014) Surficial weathering of iron sulfide mine tailings under semi-arid climate. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 141:240–257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hazelton P, Murphy B (2007) Interpreting soil test results: what do all the numbers mean? CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Huot H, Simonnot MO, Marion P, Yvon J, De Donato D, Morel JL (2013) Characteristics and potential pedogenetic processes of a Technosol developing on iron industry deposits. J Soils Sediments 13:555–568

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huot H, Simonnot MO, Watteau F, Marion P, Yvon J, DeDonato P, Morel JL (2014) Early transformation and transfer processes in a Technosol developing on iron industry deposits. Eur J Soil Sci 65:470–484

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huot H, Simonnot MO, Morel JL (2015) Pedogenetic trends in soils formed in technogenic parent materials. Soil Sci 180:182–192

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ippolito JA, Redente EF, Barbarick KA (2005) Amendment effects on pH and salt content of bauxite residue. Soil Sci 170:832–841

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IUSS Working Group WRB (2014) World Reference base for Soil Resources 2014. World Soil Resources Reports No. 106. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones BEH, Haynes RJ (2011) Bauxite processing residue: a critical review of its formation, properties, storage, and revegetation. Crit Rev Environ Sci Tech 41:271–315

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kong X, Li M, Xue S, Hartley W, Chen C, Wu C, Li X, Li Y (2017a) Acid transformation of bauxite residue: conversion of its alkaline characteristics. J Hazard Mater 324:382–390

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kong X, Guo Y, Xue S, Hartley W, Wu C, Ye Y, Cheng Q (2017b) Natural evolution of alkaline characteristics in bauxite residue. J Clean Prod 143:224–230

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khaitan S, Dzombak DA, Lowry GV (2009) Chemistry of the acid neutralization capacity of bauxite residue. Environ Eng Sci 26:873–881

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khaitan S, Dzombak DA, Swallow P, Schmidt K, Fu J, Lowry GV (2010) Field evaluation of bauxite residue neutralization by carbon dioxide, vegetation, and organic amendments. J Environ Eng 136:1045–1054

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lacy H (2005) Closure and rehabilitation of tailings storage facilities. In: Adams MD (ed) Developments in mineral processing, vol 15. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 233–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Leguédois S, Séré G, Auclerc A, Cortet J, Huot H, Ouvrard S, Watteau F, Schwartz C, Morel JL (2016) Modelling pedogenesis of Technosols. Geoderma 262:199–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehoux AP, Lockwood CL, Mayes WM, Stewart DI, Mortimer RJG, Gruiz K, Burke IT (2013) Gypsum addition to soils contaminated by red mud: implications for aluminium, arsenic, molybdenum and vanadium solubility. Environ Geochem Health 35:643–656

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meecham JR, Bell LC (1977) Revegetation of alumina refinery wastes. 1. Properties and amelioration of the materials. Aust J Exp Agr 17:679–688

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendez MO, Maier RM (2008) Phytostabilisation of mine tailings in arid and semiarid environments—an emerging remediation technology. Environ Health Persp 116:278–283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Menzies NW, Fulton IM, Morrell WJ (2004) Seawater neutralization of alkaline bauxite residue and implications for revegetation. J Environ Qual 33:1877–1884

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Menzies NW, Fulton IM, Kopittke RA, Kopittke PM (2009) Fresh water leaching of alkaline bauxite residue after sea water neutralization. J Environ Qual 38:2050–2057

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohan RK, Herbich JB, Hossner LR, Williams FS (1997) Reclamation of solid waste landfills by capping with dredged material. J Hazard Mater 53:141–164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (1982) Mean monthly, seasonal, and annual pan evaporation for the United States. NOAA Technical Report NWS 34. National Weather Service, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2011) NOAA online weather data—Corpus Christi Weather Forecast Office 1981–2010. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Corpus Christi

    Google Scholar 

  • Behling P, Wheeler LLC (2005) Potentiometric map of Zone A. Pastor Behling and Wheeler LLC, Port Lavaca

    Google Scholar 

  • Peel MC, Finlayson BL, McMahon TA (2007) Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 11:1633–1644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips IR, Chen C (2010) Surface charge characteristics and sorption properties of bauxite-processing residue sand. Aust J Soil Res 48:77–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Power G, Gräfe M, Klauber C (2011) Bauxite residue issues: I. Current management, disposal and storage practices. Hydrometallurgy 108:33–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rayment GE, Higginson FR (1992) Australian laboratory handbook of soil and water chemical methods. Inkata Press, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards LA (1954) Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkaline soils. United States Department of Agriculture Handbook No. 60. United States Government Printing Office, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossiter DG (2007) Classification of urban and industrial soils in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources. J Soils Sediments 7:96–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santini TC (2015) Application of the Rietveld refinement method for quantification of mineral concentrations in bauxite residues (alumina refining tailings). Int J Miner Proc 139:1–10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santini TC, Fey MV (2013) Spontaneous vegetation encroachment upon bauxite residue (red mud) as an indicator and facilitator of in situ remediation processes. Environ Sci Technol 47:12089–12096

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santini TC, Fey MV, Smirk MN (2013a) Evaluation of soil analytical methods for the characterisation of alkaline Technosols: I. Moisture content, pH, and electrical conductivity. J Soils Sediments 13:1141–1149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santini TC, Fey MV, Smirk MN (2013b) Evaluation of soil analytical methods for the characterisation of alkaline Technosols: II. Amorphous constituents and carbonates. J Soils Sediments 13:1351–1359

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santini TC, Fey MV (2015) Fly ash as a permeable cap for tailings management: pedogenesis in bauxite residue tailings. J Soils Sediments 15:552–564

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santini TC, Fey MV (2016) Assessment of Technosol formation and in situ remediation in capped alkaline tailings. Catena 136:17–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santini TC, Malcolm LI, Tyson GW, Warren LA (2016) pH and organic carbon dose rates control microbially-driven bioremediation efficacy in alkaline bauxite residue. Environ Sci Technol 50:11164–11173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Snars KE, Gilkes RJ (2009) Evaluation of bauxite residues (red muds) of different origins for environmental applications. Appl Clay Sci 46:13–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor S, Pearson N (2001) Properties of Bayer process solids from Alcoa WA refineries and their component minerals, Edition 1. Alcoa World Alumina, Kwinana

    Google Scholar 

  • Terry RE, Nelson DW, Sommers LE (1979) Carbon cycling during sewage sludge decomposition in soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 43:494–499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • VSN International (2009) Genstat Release 12.1. VSN International, Helensburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Uzarowicz L, Skiba S (2011) Technogenic soils developed on mine spoils containing iron sulphides: mineral transformations as an indicator of pedogenesis. Geoderma 163:95–108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wehr JB, Fulton I, Menzies NW (2006) Revegetation strategies for bauxite refinery residue: a case study of Alcan Gove in Northern Territory, Australia. Environ Manag 37:297–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams DJ (1996) Management of solid wastes. In: Mulligan DR (ed) Environmental management in the Australian minerals and energy industries—principles and practices. UNSW Press, Sydney, pp 157–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolter GLL, Naeth MA (2014) Dry mature fine tailings as oil sands reclamation substrates for three native grasses. J Environ Qual 43:1510–1516

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong JWC, Ho GE (1991) Effects of gypsum and sewage sludge amendment on physical properties of fine bauxite refining residue. Soil Sci 152:326–332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong JWC, Ho GE (1993) Use of waste gypsum in the revegetation on red mud deposits: a greenhouse study. Waste Manage Res 11:249–256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong JWC, Ho GE (1994) Sewage sludge as organic ameliorant for revegetation of fine bauxite refining residue. Resour Conserv Recycl 11:297–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodard HJ, Hossner L, Bush J (2008) Ameliorating caustic properties of aluminum extraction residue to establish a vegetative cover. J Environ Sci Health A 43:1157–1166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xenidis A, Harokopou AD, Mylona E, Brofas G (2005) Modifying alumina red mud to support a revegetation cover. J Miner Met Mater Soc 57:42–46

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xue S, Zhu F, Kong X, Wu C, Huang L, Huang N, Hartley W (2016a) A review of the characterization and revegetation of bauxite residues (red mud). Environ Sci Pollut Res 23(2):1120–1132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xue S, Kong X, Zhu F, Hartley W, Li X, Li Y (2016b) Proposal for management and alkalinity transformation of bauxite residue in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23:12822–12834

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu F, Liao J, Xue S, Hartley W, Zou Q, Wu H (2016) Evaluation of aggregate microstructures following natural regeneration in bauxite residue as characterized by synchrotron-based X-ray micro-computed tomography. Sci Total Environ 573:155–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu F, Jingtao H, Xue S, Chuan W, Qiongli W, Hartley W (2017) Vermicompost and gypsum amendments improve aggregate formation in bauxite residue. Land Degrad Dev. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2737

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Alcoa Corpus Christi field team led by Steve Zielonka and Keith Schmidt for assistance with field work and Stephen Leavy of Alcoa of Australia Limited (Kwinana) for arranging sample transport and access to analytical equipment. Part of this research was undertaken on the powder diffraction beamline (10BM1) at the Australian Synchrotron, Victoria, Australia, and the authors thank Justin Kimpton and Qinfen Gu for the assistance with XRD analyses on this beamline. The authors also thank Ian Madsen (CSIRO Process Science and Engineering) for coding the TOPAS macro used for XRD sample geometry corrections and for the advice regarding Rietveld refinement. This research was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award, a UWA Geoffrey Kennedy Postgraduate Research Travel Award, and funding from the Minerals and Energy Research Institute of Western Australia, Alcoa of Australia Limited, and BHP Billiton Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Talitha C. Santini

  2. School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Talitha C. Santini

  3. Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

    Martin V. Fey

Authors
  1. Talitha C. Santini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Martin V. Fey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Talitha C. Santini.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Rongliang Qiu

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOC 652 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Santini, T.C., Fey, M.V. From tailings to soil: long-term effects of amendments on progress and trajectory of soil formation and in situ remediation in bauxite residue. J Soils Sediments 18, 1935–1949 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-017-1867-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-017-1867-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation