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Experimental and Numerical Study of the Transport of Acid Solutions and Copper in Tailings Impoundments
Author(s) -
Munoz Jose Francisco,
Rengifo Pablo
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
groundwater monitoring and remediation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1745-6592
pISSN - 1069-3629
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6592.1995.tb00548.x
Subject(s) - tailings , copper , leaching (pedology) , copper mine , copper ore , adsorption , convection , acid rain , geology , environmental science , chemistry , environmental engineering , geotechnical engineering , soil science , metallurgy , materials science , mechanics , soil water , physics , organic chemistry
A two‐dimensional mathematical model for acid leaching of copper from mine tailings using injection and pumping wells is presented. The model considers the transport mechanisms of convection and dispersion with reactions that govern the fates of copper and acid. Reactions considered are acid neutralization, copper solubilization, and copper adsorption. The results of acid leaching experiments in laboratory columns (one‐ dimensional) and in the field at a tailings impoundment are presented. The proposed model was validated for a one‐dimensional experiment, and the model parameter fitting was found to be adequate in terms of the field experiment.