Dusting of apatite-nepheline ores enrichment tailings: an environmental problem and pathways to solve it

Studies of dusting of KB JSC “Apatit” enrichment tailings are presented. An assessment was made of the relationship between the meteorological parameters of the warm period and the tailings dusting intensity, which leads to an excess of MPC in Apatity, Murmansk region. An overview of the available methods for suppressing the dust particles emission during the operation of current and mothballed tailings dumps is presented. The results of new binding reagents testing are presented: in situ monitoring of the fixed surface state and laboratory studies of physical and mechanical properties, affecting the resistance to aggressive influences, as well as the effect of the binding reagents intake into recycled water on the technological parameters of apatite-nepheline ore flotation. It was shown that in addition to tailings dumps, transport and other industrial enterprises have a significant load on atmospheric air. The role of green zones within buffer zone, as well as in urban area was experimentally noted. An approach was tested (on a laboratory scale) for analyzing digital photographs of enrichment tailings material using RGB- and Lab-techniques to determine the quantitative relationship between temperature and humidity of the studied material. The results of computer simulation of both dusting at the ANOF-2 tailings dump and atmospheric pollution with a multi-dispersed impurity along the downward wind flow based on two- and three-dimensional CFD models. An assessment was made of the technological measures effectiveness to reduce the dusting intensity on the tailings dump beaches. The monograph is addressed to engineering and technical workers of the chemical industry, scientists, environmental practitioners, as well as citizens living in areas where mining and processing plants and interested in a clean atmosphere. It may be useful for students of higher educational institutions studying in chemical and environmental fields.