Efficient separation of zinc from zinc containing copper sulfide concentrate by chemical leaching

As the most abundant copper containing resource and zinc containing resource, chalcopyrite and sphalerite/marmatite commonly coexist as Cu-Zn mixed ores in deposits. However, it is difficult to completely separate sphalerite and chalcopyrite by flotation, thus resulting in the existence of zinc impurity in copper concentrate. Sphalerite/marmatite existed in copper sulfide concentrate as impurity may lead to severe damage of the smelting equipment, and cause the waste of copper and Zn resources, it will also decrease of the sale price of copper concentrates. Therefore, the deep separation of zinc from zinc bearing copper sulfide concentrate is of great significance. In this work, selective chemical leaching was developed to efficiently remove zinc from zinc containing copper sulfide concentrate. Under the optimal condition (i.e., sulfuric acid concentration exceed 100 g/L, temperature of 80 °C, pulp density of 10%, leaching time of 48 h), over 85% Zn was extracted into the leaching solution together with only about 10% Cu and Fe, according to the leaching experiment. Leaching slurry had good solid-liquid separation characteristics, and zinc can be further effectively recovered from the leaching solution. According to X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM/EDS) analysis, chalcopyrite was the main mineralogical phase in the residues, which can be regarded as high quality copper concentrate for metallurgy. Accordingly, a new process for deep and efficient separation of Cu-Zn mixed ores has been proposed.     

The Weathering Effects of Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans to Cu(Ⅱ) Pollution of Fine Grained Copper Mine Tailings

China has accumulated massive fine grained copper mine tailings stocks because of the past mining activities in this area. The tailings contain a variety of heavy metals, and the mass percent of Cu, which is one of the main contaminants in tailings, is up to 0.2601% (analysis by XRF). The Cu can pollute soil and groundwater by rain leaching in the form of Cu(Ⅱ), furthermore ,the fine grained copper-ore-tailings can contaminant larger area by wind for its small granularity ( < 74 μm). The main cause of weathering of mine tailings is due to oxidative dissolution of sulfides. Microorganisms, such as Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, play an important role in weathering. These bacteria attach to exposed to mineral surfaces by excreting extracellular polymers and oxidize the sulfide mineral. Some of these bacteria also oxidize Fe2+ to Fe3+ which can chemically oxidize sulfide minerals. These reactions produce voluminous quantities of acid mine drainage and heavy metals which are harmful to the environment and human healthy. This study aims at finding the weathering effects of A. ferrooxidans to Cu(II) pollution of fine grained copper mine tailings, and our experiment applied indigenous A. ferrooxidans FJ-01 to leach the tailings. The optimum test parameters were obtained using shaking flask experiment and SEM observation under the following experimental conditions: 39 days residence time, pulp density 1%-15% (1%, 5% and 15%), 30℃, 120 rpm, pH between 1-3 and redox potential between 400-650 mV. The test results show that the leaching rate of Cu reached 43.1% when the pulp density was 1% after 33 days and kept invariant till the end of the test. In addition, the leaching rate of Cu will decrease as the increase of pulp density, and the maximum rate of 15% pulp density was only 12.5%. From the SEM, it can be seen that the fine grain of tailings flocculated to conglobation under the action of bacterial leaching.     

Selective copper dissolution during bioleaching of molybdenite concentrate

This study evaluates bioleaching treatments to remove copper from the Sarcheshmeh (Iran) molybdenite concentrate using a native strain of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Copper content of the concentrate was 0.83 wt.% as chalcopyrite. The tests showed selective dissolution of copper (chalcopyrite) from molybdenite concentrate. Up to 65% of copper content of molybdenite concentrate was removed via bioleaching with a native strain of A. ferrooxidans in less than 15 days. Ferrous sulfate, sulfur or pyrite was added to culture medium to enhance the activity of bacteria. Sulfur was the preferred additional source of energy for removing copper from molybdenite via bioleaching with A. ferrooxidans. In addition, 9K or Norris medium was also used as the culture medium in the experiments. The experiments showed that application of Norris medium would be better than that of 9K medium in order to remove copper from molybdenite via bioleaching. These results were backed up due to the fact that the cost of Norris medium was also less than that of 9K medium.     

Comparison of Cu,Zn and Fe bioleaching from Cu-metallurgical slags in the presence of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans

Metal leaching from metallurgical wastes (slags) by means of environmentally friendly approaches is promising for practical applications. The goal of this study was to compare the feasibility of metal bioleaching from Cu slags by means of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. Two size particles (<0.3 mm and 1–2 mm) of two types of Cu slags (massive crystalline slag and granulated amorphous slag) were used to study metal (Cu, Zn and Fe) bioleaching. The 40-days bioleaching experiments with P. fluorescens began at circumneutral pH (7.0), whereas the experiments with A. thiooxidans were started under acidic (pH 2.5) conditions. The results demonstrated that A. thiooxidans catalyzes metal leaching from both slag types investigated. After 21 days of incubation, optimal leaching was achieved and up to 79% Cu, 76% Zn and 45% Fe could be extracted from crystalline slag under conditions of 1 wt.% pulp density and particle size <0.3 mm. The optimal efficiency achieved with amorphous slag was 81% Cu, 79% Zn and 22% Fe when 1% pulp density and 1–2 mm particle size were used. The use of P. fluorescens resulted in poor leaching efficiencies as compared to the performance of A. thiooxidans, presumably due to the higher pH conditions maintained during the P. fluorescens incubations. The maximum metal leaching efficiencies with P. fluorescens were achieved at 1% pulp density and particle size <0.3 mm and did not exceed 10% Cu, 4% Zn, 0.3% Fe for crystalline slag and 4% Cu, 3% Zn, 0.7% Fe for amorphous slag. Both slags exhibited a good potential for bioleaching with A. thiooxidans, however; further optimization of the process parameters (e.g. pulp density, particle size and pH) is needed to improve the efficiency.     

基于铀矿中本源硫杆菌对黄铁矿和铀矿浸出的协同作用

研究砂岩型铀矿床中本源嗜酸性氧化亚铁硫杆菌（Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, At.f）、嗜酸性氧化硫硫杆菌（Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans,At.t）对黄铁矿及铀矿浸出的协同作用。采用富集培养法、无机盐硅酸钠平板法对砂岩型铀矿中的硫杆菌分离纯化,通过分析菌株的形态学特征、生理生化结果及16S rDNA序列确定菌株的系统发育地位,并利用摇瓶培养法设计浸矿试验,向黄铁矿浸出体系中分别加入分离纯化的At.f、At.t及混合的At.f和At.t,检测pH值、氧化还原电位值（Eh值)的变化,浸矿40 d,测定浸矿体系的总铁离子浓度和硫酸根离子浓度,并分析黄铁矿矿渣表面形态及成分。根据黄铁矿的浸出结果,设计铀矿浸出试验,浸矿40 d,测定浸出体系中的pH值、Eh值、总铁离子浓度、硫酸根离子浓度等参数并计算四价铀的浸出率。结果表明,分离的两株优势菌中SW-2鉴定为嗜酸性氧化亚铁硫杆菌(At.f),SW-3鉴定为嗜酸性氧化硫硫杆菌(At.t)。At.f、At.t浸出黄铁矿和铀矿时存在协同作用,At.f为浸矿体系的强氧化剂,主要将Fe2+氧化成Fe3+,Fe3+将UO2氧化成可溶性的UO22+;At.t可为浸矿体系提供酸性环境;At.f: At.t = 5:1试验组对黄铁矿和铀矿的浸矿效果最好,四价铀的浸出率为55.60%,黄铁矿矿渣表面形态显示细菌对黄铁矿存在直接的氧化作用;At.f、At.t高效浸出黄铁矿的菌量比例对以黄铁矿为伴生矿的铀矿的细菌浸出也具有明显的促进作用,研究结果可以为工业微生物浸铀时提供一定的支持并为以黄铁矿为伴生矿的其他矿物的微生物浸出提供参考。     

Bioleaching of high pyrite carbon-rich sphalerite preflotation tailings

In this work, zinc extraction was investigated using bioleaching process. The used samples were carbon-rich preflotation tailings prepared from a lead–zinc mineral processing plant, located in Yazd province, Iran. Two samples were obtained with high amount of pyrite, while the first sample contained high arsenic (As) substitution in the pyrite crystal lattice, and it was about 4–5 times more than that of the second sample. The organic matter in both samples has presented a signature of poorly crystalline carbon. Bioleaching experiments were designed and carried out by a mixed culture of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans in shake flasks. The results showed that in the optimum point of experiments (pH 1.94–2, pulp density 10 %, without initial Fe⁺²), about 95 % of Zn would be extracted within 14 days, while with no use of bacteria, merely 35 % of Zn content was dissolved (under the same condition). Because of the characteristics of the prepared samples, the bacterial medium (9K) was removed in the optimum condition of bioleaching tests. Results showed that even in the absence of 9K medium, bacteria had proper growth too, such that more than 93 % of Zn content was extracted. In fact, the same results were achieved in the absence and presence of 9K medium. Comparison of the obtained results in bioleaching tests under the optimum condition indicated that Zn extraction was the same for both high and low As samples, while Fe extraction from low As content sample was nearly 4 times higher than that of the other sample.     

Hydrometallurgical processing and recovery of molybdenum trioxide from spent catalyst

Hydrometallurgical processing of spent hydrodesulphurisation (HDS) catalyst for the recovery of molybdenum using sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide mixtures was investigated. The results indicated that the recovery of molybdenum was largely dependent on the concentrations of Na₂CO₃ and H₂O₂ in the reaction medium, which controls the acidity of the leach liquor and carry over of impurities such as Al, Ni, P, Si and V. Leaching process was exothermic and leaching efficiency of molybdenum decreased with increasing solid to liquid ratio. Large scale leaching of spent catalyst, under optimum conditions: 20% pulp density, 85 g/L Na₂CO₃, 10 vol.% H₂O₂ and 1 h reaction, resulted a leaching efficiency of 84% Mo. The obtained leach liquor contained (g/L): Mo — 22.0, Ni — 0.015 and Al — 0.82, P — 1.1, Si — 0.094 and minor quantities of V — 8 mg/L, As and Co — < 1 mg/L. Recovery of Mo from leach solution as MoO₃ of 97.30% purity was achieved by ammonium molybdate precipitation method.     

Close linkage of copper (and uranium) transport to diagenetic reddening of “upstream” basin sediments for sediment-hosted stratiform copper (and roll-type uranium) mineralization

Copper and uranium may be closely associated metals in sedimentary basins in which “upstream” sediments have been diagenetically reddened (e.g., sediment-hosted stratiform copper (SSC) deposits and roll-type uranium deposits) and the immediate hosts of mineralization are adjacent reduced sediments. The timing of leaching is closely linked to the process and timing of reddening, with descending meteoric water providing the oxygen needed for the reddening process. To leach and transport copper, the low-temperature pore solution must evolve to a brine, and importantly, its Eh must decrease to moderately positive levels (0.1 ± 0.1 V). For uranium, a simple oxidized solution is sufficient. Given the parallel Eh paths for copper and uranium and their close associations with diagenetic reddening, the dominant metal in sediment-hosted stratiform copper or roll-type uranium deposits is probably related closely to the source mineral and/or rock constituents of the reddened sediments.     

Microbial mutualism in leaching of Cu−Ni sulfide concentrate

With tightening legislations on air pollution and decreasing grades of Cu and Ni ores, the mineral processing industry will have to find an alternative to smelting. One such hydrometallurgical alternative is bacterial leaching; it utilizes the action of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans on sulfide minerals converting them to metal sulfates which can be leached by acid produced by the bacteria. The metal is recovered by cementation, solvent extraction or electrowinning. In the present paper, the authors report their test work with a Cu-Ni sulfide concentrate and show that the mutualistic association of T. ferrooxidans with nitrogen-fixing bacteria Beijerinckia lacticogenes helps leach more metal faster in a leaching medium devoid of any added carbon or nitrogen source. Use of intentionally mixed bacterial culture in ore leaching has not been previously reported.     

含铜、铋和银的金精矿堆浸工艺综合回收试验研究

采用生物氧化技术和化学方法,利用堆浸工艺分步提取,对含Au 140~150 g/t、Ag 900~1 000 g/t、B i 9.0%~10.0%、Cu14%~17%的多金属浮选金精矿的综合回收工艺进行了研究。经小型搅拌试验,确定了生物氧化浸铜—氰化浸金、NaC l-FeC l3-HC l体系(氯盐法)浸出铋和银的技术方法。通过柱浸试验,研究了利用该方法分步浸取Au、Ag、Cu和B i在堆浸工艺中的可行性。在10 t精矿的扩大试验验中,验证了柱浸试验所取得的工艺指标和参数。试验中掺入骨架材料,解决了精矿在堆浸中的渗透问题;生物氧化过程中,菌种在含高浓度铜离子浸出液中反复驯化,对铜的耐受力提高到30 g/L;在NaC l-FeC l3-HC l体系浸出B i和Ag时,用H2O2将浸出液中的Fe2+氧化成Fe3+,使浸出液能循环使用,且B i和Ag同时浸出。Au、Ag、Cu和B i的最终浸出率分别为92.98%、65.09%、45.33%和53.49%。     

Copper contamination of soils and vegetables in the vicinity of Jiuhuashan copper mine,China

Copper contamination in soils and vegetables in the vicinity of an abandoned copper mine in China was investigated. The Cu concentrations of 93 soil samples ranged from 30.4 to 3,191 mg kg⁻¹ soil for a mean of 816.8 mg kg⁻¹ soil. Among 15 samples from a 0 to 20-cm soil layer used for the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test, the highest value of Cu-TCLP was 133.8 mg kg⁻¹ soil and the TCLP values were positively correlated with the total Cu content of the soils. The sequential extraction of soils in the 0–20-, 20–40-, and 40–60-cm soil layers showed that Cu existed mainly in the Fe–Mn oxide fraction, sulfide/organic fraction, and residual fraction. The copper contamination of 21 species of vegetables from in situ sampling was also examined. Cu concentrations in the edible portions of Brassica chinensis and Solanum melongena were higher than the FAO/WHO standard (40 mg kg⁻¹ DW). The health risk of copper for local inhabitants from consuming these vegetables was assessed on the basis of the target hazard quotient. Enriched concentrations of copper were also found in situ in eight cultivars of B. chinensis planted in the fields, with two levels of Cu concentration. The results showed that there is severe copper contamination in this mine area, and the pollutant in soils show a high risk of leaching into the groundwater and diffusing through the food chain.     

Bioleaching potential of bacterial communities in historic mine waste areas

Microbial activity has the potential to alter all cultural heritage in mining and metallurgy, due to metal mobilization by leaching. This communication shows the consequences of the bioleaching ability of two natural enrichments on copper slag samples from a historic ore smelting site in Sangerhausen (Mansfeld, Südharz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany). Enrichment cultures gained from mine drainage were dominated by either the iron and sulfur-oxidizing Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans, or by the iron-oxidizing Leptospirillum. During 35 days of bioleaching in media containing copper slag pulp, inoculated with these enrichments, the change in pH and solubilized metal concentrations of the systems were monitored. Both bacterial strains were completely different from each other in their pattern of pH variation and rates of metal solubilization. The maximum removal of Cu (1725 mg/l) and Zn (715 mg/l) from copper slag substrate was achieved with enrichment culture of A. ferrivorans SCUT-1. However, maximum Mn (207 mg/l), Pb (86 mg/l), and Ni (75 mg/l) removal was observed with enrichment culture of Leptospirillum strain YQP-1. Implications for metal mobilization along with alteration of artifacts from not only historic mining areas but also aspects of decontamination and remediation are discussed.     

氧化亚铁硫杆菌浸取黄铜矿石影响因素的试验研究

本文通过对氧化亚铁硫杆菌浸出青海某地区低品位黄铜矿石的试验,探讨了接种量、矿石粒度、矿浆含量对黄铜矿石摇瓶浸出过程的影响。结果表明：在无菌硫酸浸出过程中,黄铜矿可以自发氧化分解,最终浸出率为15.98%;在有菌浸出过程中,氧化亚铁硫杆菌接种量为5/100（mL/mL）时铜浸出率最高可达31.16%。氧化亚铁硫杆菌浸出黄铜矿在接种量为5/100（mL/mL）,矿石粒径为〈104μm,矿浆含量为5/100（mL/mL）时较为适宜。     

Effectiveness of sulfate-reducing passive bioreactors for treating highly contaminated acid mine drainage: II. Metal removal mechanisms and potential mobility

Column bioreactors were used for studying mechanisms of metal removal, assessment of long-term stability of spent reactive mixtures, as well as potential metal mobility after treating highly contaminated acid mine drainage (AMD; pH 2.9–5.7). Several physicochemical, microbiological, and mineralogical analyses were performed on spent reactive mixtures collected from 4 bioreactors, which were tested in duplicate for two hydraulic retention times (7.3d and 10d), with downward flow over an 11-month period. Consistent with the high metal concentrations in the AMD feed, and with low metal concentrations measured in the treated effluent, the physicochemical analyses indicated very high concentrations of metals (Fe, Mn, Cd, Ni, and Zn) in the top and bottom layers of the reactive mixtures from all columns. Moreover, the concentrations of Fe (50.8–57.8 g/kg) and Mn (0.53–0.70 g/kg) were up to twice as high in the bottom layers, whereas the concentrations of Cd (6.77–13.3 g/kg), Ni (1.80–5.19 g/kg) and Zn (2.53–13.2 g/kg) were up to 50-times higher in the top layers. Chemical extractions and elemental analysis gave consistent results, which indicated a low fraction of metals removed as sulfides (up to 15% of total metals recovered in spent reactive mixtures). Moreover, Fe and Mn were found in a more stable chemical form (residual fraction was 42–74% for Mn and 30–77% for Fe) relative to Cd, Ni or Zn, which seemed more weakly bound (oxidisable/reducible fractions) and showed higher potential mobility. Besides identifying (oxy)hydroxide and carbonate minerals, the mineralogical analyses identified metal sulfides containing Fe, Cd, Ni and Zn. Metal removal mechanisms were, therefore, mainly adsorption and other binding mechanisms with organic matter (for Cd, Ni and Zn), and the precipitation as (oxy)hydroxide minerals (for Fe and Mn). After 15 months, however, the column bioreactors did not lose their capacity for removing metals from the AMD. Although the metals were immobile during the bioreactor treatment, their mobility could increase from spent reactive mixtures, if stored inappropriately. Metal recovery by acidic leaching of spent substrates at the end of bioreactor operation could be an alternative.     

Leaching of an oxide gold ore with chloride/hypochlorite solutions

An oxide gold ore was subjected to chloride/hypochlorite leaching at room temperature. The effects of three factors, including Ca(OCl)₂ vs. NaOCl, OCl⁻ concentration, and HCl concentration on gold leaching performance were investigated. Due to formation of CaOCl⁺ complex in solution and hence less reactivity, calcium hypochlorite produces a sluggish gold leaching kinetics, taking twice the time (46 h) to achieve maximum gold recovery of 58% compared to sodium hypochlorite. 10 g/L of total initial hypochlorite species in solution produces reasonable gold recoveries. The amount of added HCl and hence the initial pH was found to have a major effect on gold leaching kinetics and maximum gold recovery. A high level of 9 g/L of added HCl causes HClO to be very reactive, producing very fast kinetics, reaching 67% gold extraction in 4 h. It also causes a faster consumption of hypochlorous acid, through catalytic decomposition (by NiO and CuO) and disproportionation. Hypochlorous acid reactions with sulfide and ferrous content of ore proceed very slowly in the pH range of 4–11. Gold–chloro complexes are strongly adsorbed on quartz component of ore. To minimize this undesirable adsorption of gold–chloro species, the aging time must be limited to a few hours only.     

Magnesium recovery from magnesite tailings by acid leaching and production of magnesium chloride hexahydrate from leaching solution by evaporation

The recovery of magnesium from magnesite tailings in aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions by acid leaching was studied in a batch reactor using hydrochloric acid solutions. Subsequent, production of magnesium chloride hexahydrate (MgCl₂.6H₂O) from leaching solution was also investigated. The effects of temperature, acid concentration, solid-to-liquid ratio, particle size and stirring speed on the leaching process were investigated. The pseudo-second-order reaction model seemed to be appropriate for the magnesium leaching. The activation energy of the leaching process was estimated to be 62.4 kJ mol^− 1. Finally, MgCl₂.6H₂O in a purity of 91% was produced by evaporation of leaching solution obtained at a temperature of 40 °C, 1.0 M acid, solid-to-liquid ratio of 10 g/L, particle size of 100 µm, stirring speed of 1250 rpm and leaching time of 60 min.     

Chalcopyrite formation through the metathesis of pyrrhotite with aqueous copper

The heterogeneous chemical environment which develops in the heap leaching of some pyrrhotite-containing copper ores can promote covellite and chalcopyrite formation particularly in acid-depleted regions of a heap. In such circumstances, copper recovery will be delayed until the acid and oxidation fronts move through the bed of ore and these secondary copper sulfides are re-leached. The transition from pyrrhotite to chalcopyrite most probably follows the sequence, pyrrhotite to copper-pyrrhotite to unnamed mineral CuFe₃S₄ to isocubanite to chalcopyrite, with a major structural expansion occurring prior to CuFe₃S₄. The mechanism is one in which copper is incorporated into pyrrhotite, which maintains its NiAs-type structure up to a stability limit, above which the structure rearranges to a chalcopyrite-like structure followed by isomorphic substitution of copper for iron. The structural rearrangement proceeds with significant expansion in one of the hexagonal axis directions and contractions in the other directions. Depending on the orientation, this expansion induces different levels of strain in the product chalcopyrite. The level of strain subsequently impacts on the rate of chalcopyrite metathesis to covellite. The depth of chalcopyrite formation into the pyrrhotite varies with pyrrhotite orientation.     

A new technique for extracting zirconium form Egyptian zircon concentrate

Zircon is the most important commercial source of zirconium, its compounds and alloys. Several methods are used for industrial processing of zircon for production of zirconium dioxide and tetrachloride. These methods include sintering of zircon with sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide or calcium oxide or calcium carbonate and with potassium fluorosilicate, chlorination of zircon mixture with coal in blast furnace and carbidization of zircon in a mixture of coal in electric arc furnace. All these methods are carried out at high temperatures and have many disadvantages.The present work illustrates a study of a new technique for extracting zirconium from Egyptian zircon concentrate by its simultaneous ball-milling and pressure alkaline leaching, to improve the recovery of zirconium from zircon. Experiments were carried out in stainless steel ball-mills of cylindrical shape under different conditions of temperature, pressure and time. The ball-mills were heated and mechanically rotated in an electric furnace by means of roll mechanism.The filtrate after leaching of zircon, containing excess of sodium hydroxide was regenerated by its treatment with calcium hydroxide for purification from silicon impurity. Then, the solution was evaporated to the desired concentration (500 g/l Na₂O) and recycled to the reactor of leaching.The results obtained show that complete recovery of zirconium from zircon (99.7%) by simultaneous ball-milling and alkaline leaching was attained at 250 °C within 3 h, using amount of sodium hydroxide 150% of theoretical requirement (satisfying favourable conditions of zirconate cake for subsequent acid leaching).The standard free energy (ΔF^o) and equilibrium constant (K) of the reaction of zircon with sodium hydroxide were calculated as—19.58 k cal mol^− 1 and 2.29 · 10¹⁴, respectively. The kinetics of the technological alkaline processing of zircon in ball-mall autoclaves was studied over the temperature range 150–275 °C.     

Dissolution of secondary copper sulphides using complex-forming agents (EDTA,EDA). Part I: Covellite dissolution in EDTA and EDA

Problems of dissolution of the so-called secondary copper sulphides are very important for dynamic as well as percolation leaching of ores. This paper deals with dissolution kinetics of sulphides in an alkaline medium, using complex-forming agents in connection with possibility to leach basic, partially oxidized ores. Natural minerals and their polydispersions were investigated and the so-called geometrical model was used for evaluation. Basic dependences of the dissolution rate on the reagent concentration and pH value of the leaching solution were found and an attempt at their mathematical expression and physical interpretation was made. The first part of this work refers to the systems of covellite-ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) and covellite-ethylene diamine (EDA). The established dependences are not only of theoretical but also of practical importance.     

Permeability of Municipal Solid Waste in Bioreactor Landfill with Degradation

Bioreactor landfills are operated for rapid stabilization of waste, increased landfill gas generation for cost-effective energy recovery, gain in landfill space, enhanced leachate treatment, and reduced post closure maintenance period. The fundamental process of waste stabilization in bioreactor landfill is recirculation of generated leachate back into the landfills. This creates a favorable environment for rapid microbial decomposition of the biodegradable solid waste. In order to better estimate the generated leachate and design of leachate recirculation system, clear understanding of the permeability of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) with degradation and the factors influencing the permeability is necessary. The objective of the paper is to determine the changes in hydraulic properties of MSW in bioreactor landfill with time and decomposition. Four small-scale bioreactor landfills were built in laboratory and samples were prepared to represent each phase of decomposition. Then, the changes in hydraulic properties of MSW in bioreactor landfill with time and decomposition were determined. A series of constant head permeability tests were performed on the samples generated in laboratory scale bioreactor landfills to determine variation of permeability of MSW with degradation. The test results indicated that the permeability of MSW in bioreactor landfills decreases with decomposition. Based on the test results, the permeability of MSW at the first phase of degradation was estimated as 0.0088 cm/s at density 700 kg/m³. However, with degradation, permeability decreased to 0.0013 cm/s at the same density, for MSW at Phase IV.