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Life Cycle Assessment of Electrodialytic Technologies to Recover Raw Materials from Mine Tailings

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  • Joana Almeida

    (CENSE—Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
    Department of Civil Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal)

  • Cátia Magro

    (CENSE—Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
    Department of Physics, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal)

  • Eduardo P. Mateus

    (CENSE—Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal)

  • Alexandra B. Ribeiro

    (CENSE—Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal)

Abstract

Currently, the development of new sustainable technologies to recover raw materials from secondary resources has shown a lack of available data on the processes and supplies involved, as well as their environmental impacts. The present research has conducted a life cycle assessment of electrodialytic (ED) technologies to improve critical raw materials recovery in the Portuguese mining industry. To critically appraise the activities from the mining sector and gather data on technical and environmental issues, three waste management scenarios were considered: (1) ED treatment with a deep eutectic solvent as an adjuvant; (2) ED treatment with simultaneous H 2 recovery; and (3) ED treatment with sodium chloride as an enhancement. The data presented were based on global databases, technical reports from official sources, and peer-reviewed published experimental outcomes. The estimated results indicated that one of the constraints in applying ED technologies is energy consumption and thus the impacts are highly dependent on energy source choices. On the other hand, as a consequence of the H 2 inherently produced by ED technologies, there is a direct potential for energy recovery. Therefore, considering an upscale approach of the ED reactor based on bench scale experimental results, the H 2 could be reused in the ED facility or stored. Additionally, according to experimental data, 22% of the tungsten from the fine mine tailings could be recovered. Finally, the possibility to remove 63% of arsenic from mine tailings could decrease contamination risks while creating additional marketable co-products.

Suggested Citation

  • Joana Almeida & Cátia Magro & Eduardo P. Mateus & Alexandra B. Ribeiro, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment of Electrodialytic Technologies to Recover Raw Materials from Mine Tailings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:7:p:3915-:d:528508
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. United Nations UN, 2015. "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Working Papers id:7559, eSocialSciences.
    2. Magro, C. & Almeida, J. & Paz-Garcia, J.M. & Mateus, E.P. & Ribeiro, A.B., 2019. "Exploring hydrogen production for self-energy generation in electroremediation: A proof of concept," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    3. GARBARINO Elena & ORVEILLON Glenn & SAVEYN Hans & BARTHE Pascal & EDER Peter, 2018. "Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for the Management of Waste from Extractive Industries in accordance with Directive 2006/21/EC," JRC Research Reports JRC109657, Joint Research Centre.
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