Article
Environmental Sciences
Baolin Gong, Dejian Li, Zheng Niu, Yun Liu, Zhi Dang
Summary: A new composite passivator named PSPT was fabricated in this study, and appropriate addition of sepiolite particles significantly improved its inhibition ability against pyrite oxidation. However, excessive addition of sepiolite weakened the passivation performance of the coatings. The mechanism of sepiolite particles embedding in PropS-SH network through oxygen bridges was proposed based on characterization results.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rong Fan, Gujie Qian, Michael D. Short, Russell C. Schumann, Stephane Brienne, Roger St C. Smart, Andrea R. Gerson
Summary: The study aimed to examine the efficacy of geochemical and microbial treatments for at-source control through pyrite surface passivation. All treated KLCs had near-neutral leachate pH at the end of tests. Blended calcite addition and lime-saturated water followed by calcite-saturated water were most effective at reducing release of Zn and Mn.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
R. Griffiths, A. Prestia, R. Bowell, C. Brough, L. Donkervoort, J. Dixon
Summary: The Round Mountain mine in Nevada is a large volcanic-hosted precious metal deposit that has been in operation since 1976. The deposit is primarily composed of Oligocene ash-flow tuffs and volcaniclastic rocks, with gold mineralization associated with various minerals. Extensive geochemical characterization has been conducted to assess acid generation potential and waste-rock management procedures at the mine. Field observations over 40 years of operation indicate no acid generation has occurred.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Maria Santisteban, Ana Teresa Luis, Jose Antonio Grande, Javier Aroba, Jose Miguel Davila, Aguasanta Miguel Sarmiento, Juan Carlos Fortes, Francisco Cordoba, Angel Mariano Rodriguez-Perez
Summary: This work focuses on the physical-chemical characterization of a mining effluent affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) from its source to the confluence in the Odiel river. The study concludes that there are natural attenuation processes in the mining channel, despite the influence of other drainages with different hydrochemical characteristics.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Rong Fan, Gujie Qian, Yubiao Li, Michael D. Short, Russell C. Schumann, Miao Chen, Roger St C. Smart, Andrea R. Gerson
Summary: Research suggests that in weathered pyritic wastes, the release of acidity is primarily from secondary sulfate minerals rather than residual pyrite, requiring specific treatment strategies. Dissolving secondary minerals containing stored acidity necessitates the use of lime-saturated water with high alkalinity.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Zhihong Tu, Qi Wu, Hongping He, Shu Zhou, Jie Liu, Huijun He, Chongmin Liu, Zhi Dang, John R. Reinfelder
Summary: Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a significant source of environmental pollution globally, and the conventional methods for its remedial treatment are costly and may lead to secondary pollution. This review highlights the importance of pyrite surface passivation as a potential solution to prevent or reduce AMD generation and associated pollution. Various pyrite anti-corrosion technologies, including inorganic, organic, and organosilane passivating coatings, are summarized. The need for future research to integrate existing passivation agents or new artificial materials while considering environmental conditions, costs, and long-term passivation performance is emphasized.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Glenna Thomas, Craig Sheridan, Peter E. Holm
Summary: This study investigated the impact of acid mine drainage (AMD) on soils in gold and coal mining regions near Johannesburg, South Africa. The results showed evidence of soil acidification, high sulfate and calcium contents, and the presence of high levels of arsenic. The total rare earth element (REE) content ranged from 51.7 to 110 mg/kg and favored the light REEs. These findings indicate the major challenges faced in post-mining land rehabilitation.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Maoxin Hong, Wei Wang, Laishun Li, Yang Liu, Lizhi Tong, Guanzhou Qiu, Baojun Yang, Jun Wang
Summary: This study investigates the influence of biogenic Fe3+ and H2SO4 generated from pyrite bioleaching on the extraction of copper from bornite. The results show that the bioleaching of bornite is significantly improved in pyrite bioleaching leachate (PBL), and natural acid mine drainage can also improve the leaching of bornite to a certain extent.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dejian Li, Baolin Gong, Yun Liu, Zhi Dang
Summary: In this study, an active passivation coating with self-healing function was developed to protect metal sulfide minerals from oxidation, showing stimulus-responsive release of BTA under acidic conditions. The coating exhibited long-term oxidation resistance and active self-repair function, providing new ideas for metal sulfide mineral passivation.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yingbo Dong, Zhirui Liu, Wei Liu, Hai Lin
Summary: In this study, a new organosilane passivation agent was successfully prepared at ambient temperatures to inhibit pyrite oxidation. The experimental results showed that the passivation agent effectively reduced the oxidation rate of pyrite and improved its oxidation resistance.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dejian Li, Chenrui Liu, Yun Liu, Xuemin Chen, Weifeng Wu, Feng Li, Jiang Tian, Zhi Dang
Summary: This study utilized eco-friendly natural green polyphenol tannic acid (TA) as a passivator to inhibit pyrite oxidation. Experimental and surface analysis results confirmed the inhibitory effect of TA. The TA passivation coating provided good antioxidant protection for pyrite, and the inhibition ability increased with higher TA concentration.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhan Ding, Yunxiao Bi, Jie Li, Jiaqiao Yuan, Huixin Dai, Shaojun Bai
Summary: The selective flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite was achieved using Fenton oxidation modification in a low alkaline acid mine drainage (AMD) system. The micro-flotation experiment showed a maximum recovery difference of 74.6% between chalcopyrite and pyrite under recommended test conditions. Various analyses confirmed that the hydrophilic species caused by Fenton oxidation hindered the interaction between pyrite surfaces and EX collector, while having a weak influence on the floatability of chalcopyrite.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leticia A. Bernardez, Luis Eduardo L. de Oliveira, Luiz Rogerio P. de Andrade Lima
Summary: The study aims to identify microorganisms involved in sulfide oxidation in the tailings of a Bahia Gold Belt mine in Brazil. Five bacterium species were found, including Acidithiobacillus spp., Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidiphilium spp., Leptospirillum type II, and Sulfobacillus spp. Molecular analysis was used to determine the role of these microorganisms in the acid mine drainage process.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Carmen Zwahlen, Andreas Rehn, Thomas Aiglsperger, Bernhard Dold
Summary: Acid mine drainage (AMD) has become a pressing issue in arctic climate zones due to increasing mining activities. A study on over 100 years of coal mining in Svalbard reveals that despite low pyrite content, all lithologies in the mined coal are prone to produce acid waters with almost no neutralization potential. The dominant weathering process is pyrite oxidation, and the system's control is likely influenced by the geometry of waste rock piles and local hydrology. Mass balance calculations suggest that AMD will continue for another 150 years.
JOURNAL OF GEOCHEMICAL EXPLORATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jing Feng, Chengliang Zhou, Qian Yang, Zhi Dang, Lijuan Zhang
Summary: Inhibition of tailings oxidation effectively controls the generation of acid mine wastewater. A PropS-SH/Ce(dbp)3 passivator with excellent passivation performance and self-healing properties was prepared by using 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane and dibutyl phosphate as the main passivating agent and repair agent respectively. By adjusting the pH and curing time, the passivation coating achieved room-temperature curing and showed enhanced passivation performance with the addition of 0.2 wt% Ce(dbp)3. The passivation and self-healing mechanisms were investigated, and it was found that a cross-linked mesh structure was formed by Si-O-Si bonding and Ce(dbp)3 played a role in repairing the passivation coating.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Artem Svyazhin, Vladimir Nalbandyan, Mauro Rovezzi, Aleksandra Chumakova, Blanka Detlefs, Alexander A. Guda, Alessandro Santambrogio, Alain Manceau, Pieter Glatzel
Summary: X-ray spectroscopy using high-energy-resolution fluorescence detection (HERFD) provides detailed information on the oxidation state, phase composition, and local environment in molybdenum-based compounds at the L-3-edge. The chemical shift of HERFD L-3-edge spectra follows a parabolic dependence on the oxidation state, providing insights into the distortion of ligand environments and radial order of atoms around the absorber. The comparison of high-resolution spectra with theoretical simulations demonstrates the ability of the single-electron approximation to reproduce the spectral shape accurately, which can be useful in various fields including physics, chemistry, materials science, and biochemistry.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Anusuya Boruah, Binoy K. Saikia
Summary: In the past few years, fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) have seen significant development as a new member of the nanocarbon family. FNDs have unique properties, such as photostability, bio-compatibility, and excellent optical and mechanical properties, making them attractive for various applications in fields like bio-imaging, drug delivery, cancer treatment, and spin electronics. FNDs contain crystallographic defects that give them intriguing properties, with the negatively charged nitrogen vacancy center (NV-) being the most studied defect. This review highlights the advantages of FNDs with NV- centers produced through different methods and summarizes recent developments in functionalization and applications in the field of biological science.
JOURNAL OF FLUORESCENCE
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Joyshil Tamuly, Dhrubajyoti Bhattacharjya, Binoy K. Saikia
Summary: Researchers have utilized low-grade and pollutive coal from the Northeast region of India as a precursor for synthesizing valuable graphene derivatives. The synthetic process involves a simple chemical approach and ultracentrifugation technique, resulting in few-layered graphene with excellent electrochemical behavior. The synthesized graphene derivative demonstrates great potential in energy storage and other value-added applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nazrul Islam, Mousumi Bora, Monikankana Saikia, Anusuya Boruah, Kallol Roy, Rituraj Konwar, Binoy K. Saikia
Summary: This innovative research evaluated the formation of water-soluble carbon dots (wsCDs) and onion-like fullerenes (wsOLFs) from atmospheric particulate matter (PM) in an oxidizing environment. The synthesized wsCDs were quasi-spherical in shape with an average size of 4-6 nm, while the wsOLFs were spherical and/or quasi-spherical with an average diameter ranging from 8-12 nm. The PM-derived carbon dots and fullerenes exhibited antioxidant properties and promising electrochemical properties, indicating their potential in environmental nanotechnology development.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Viktoriia A. Saveleva, Kavita Kumar, Pascal Theis, Nicole Segura Salas, Ulrike I. Kramm, Frederic Jaouen, Frederic Maillard, Pieter Glatzel
Summary: This study investigates the structural composition of Fe-N-C materials for the oxygen reduction reaction in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, before and after catalyst layer preparation, using X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopies. The results reveal the significant impact of the preparation step on the electronic structure and local coordination of Fe, emphasizing the importance of determining the Fe-N-C catalyst structure in the prepared electrode for further studies of the structure-activity-stability correlations.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Blanka Detlefs, Serena Graziano, Pieter Glatzel
Summary: We present a protocol for efficiently detecting the chemical state of an element using X-ray emission (fluorescence) spectroscopy with a Bragg optics spectrometer. The intensity ratio at two specific X-ray emission energies, which is largely free from experimental artifacts, can accurately identify the chemical state. Differences in chemical states in spatially inhomogeneous or temporally evolving samples can be detected with low numbers of photon events, reducing data acquisition time by two orders of magnitude compared to recording a full spectrum.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
K. Teixeira Santos, K. Kumar, L. Dubau, H. Ge, S. Berthon-Fabry, C. S. A. Vasconcellos, F. H. B. Lima, T. Asset, P. Atanassov, V. A. Saveleva, P. Glatzel, X. Li, F. Jaouen, F. Maillard
Summary: Tremendous progress has been made in improving the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of iron nitrogen carbon (Fe-N-C) catalysts, which have the potential to replace platinum-group metals in proton exchange membrane fuel cells cathode. However, the degradation mechanisms and practical durability of these catalysts remain major challenges. This study reports on the spontaneous aerobic degradation phenomenon of Fe-N-C materials under atmospheric conditions, which leads to a decrease in their electrocatalytic activity towards the ORR.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anusuya Boruah, Kallol Roy, Ashutosh Thakur, Saikat Haldar, Rituraj Konwar, Prasenjit Saikia, Binoy K. Saikia
Summary: Coal washery rejects (CWRs) are chemically transformed into biocompatible nanodiamonds (NDs) with blue light emission, exhibiting strong antiviral properties and moderate antioxidant activity for potential biomedical applications. The NDs derived from CWRs possess a crystalline structure with a 100 lattice plane of a cubic diamond, and are substantially functionalized with oxygen-containing functional groups. Additionally, they show minimal inhibition on wheatgrass seed germination and seedling growth, indicating low toxicity at the highest tested concentration.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anusuya Boruah, Sarmistha Bora, Ashutosh Thakur, Hemant Sankar Dutta, Binoy K. Saikia
Summary: With unique properties, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have various applications in different fields. This study presents a sustainable synthesis of solid phosphors from coal-derived CQDs using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and silica (SiO2) as matrix. The obtained CQDs exhibited blue fluorescence and were self-co-doped with nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms. The solid-state fluorescence of PVA/CQD composite films and SiO2/CQD phosphors were successfully achieved, and the latter showed high-intensity white light emission for potential optical applications.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kushal Tibrewal, Chandra Venkataraman, Harish Phuleria, Veena Joshi, Sameer Maithel, Anand Damle, Anurag Gupta, Pradnya Lokhande, Shahadev Rabha, Binoy K. Saikia, Sayantee Roy, Gazala Habib, Shubham Rathi, Anubha Goel, Sakshi Ahlawat, Tuhin Kumar Mandal, M. Azharuddin Hashmi, Asif Qureshi, Abisheg Dhandapani, Jawed Iqbal, Sandeep Devaliya, Ramya Sunder Raman, Yang Lian, Govindan Pandithurai, Sudheer Kumar Kuppili, M. Shiva Nagendra, Sauryadeep Mukherjee, Abhijit Chatterjee, Tanveer Ahmad Najar, Arshid Jehangir, Jitender Singh, Baerbel Sinha
Summary: Energy conservation is crucial for achieving net-zero carbon emissions in brick production, especially in countries with rapid urbanization. However, there are widely disparate estimates of energy consumption, making it difficult to benchmark its importance compared to the steel and cement industries. Using a combination of a nationwide questionnaire survey and remote sensing data, this study models Indian brick production and reveals a large underreporting of energy consumption, as well as the key drivers affecting its performance.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Nilotpol Bhuyan, Nazrul Islam, Monikankana Saikia, James C. Hower, Binoy K. Saikia
Summary: The Makum coal from northeastern India, from the Cenozoic age, has diverse geochemical and geological characteristics. It is less useful for industrial purposes due to its high sulfur content, but it can be a research hub for coal-based derivative products. This study investigates the mineralogical and geochemical compositions of the coal, mine overburden, and shale samples from the Makum coal field, and establishes their mutual relationship.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Joyshil Tamuly, Dhrubajyoti Bhattacharjya, Binoy K. Saikia
Summary: Coal, although associated with environmental issues as a fuel, can be utilized as a precursor for valuable graphene derivatives, which have excellent potential in energy storage and other value-added applications. The chemically impure and undervalued low-grade coal from the Northeast region of India was used as a carbonaceous precursor for synthesizing graphene derivatives through a simple chemical method combined with ultracentrifugation. The synthesized graphene derivative exhibited few-layered graphene structure and showed excellent electrochemical behavior as an electrode material in a supercapacitor cell.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shahadev Rabha, Nazrul Islam, Binoy K. Saikia, Gyanesh Kumar Singh, Adnan Mateen Qadri, Vivek Srivastava, Tarun Gupta
Summary: In this study, the mass concentrations and chemical compositions of PM2.5 in an urban area of Northeast India were evaluated to determine their seasonal variations and the influence of meteorological factors. The results showed that PM2.5 mass was mainly contributed by water-soluble inorganic ions, carbonaceous matter, and inorganic elements. Winter season had the highest PM2.5 concentration, primarily due to water-soluble inorganic ions and carbonaceous matter. Meteorological factors and regional air transport significantly influenced PM concentrations in the study area.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Santhi Maria Benoy, Dhrubajyoti Bhattacharjya, Mousumi Bora, Binoy K. Saikia
Summary: In this study, a series of hierarchical porous carbons with high surface area and hierarchical pores were successfully synthesized using a specific method. The hierarchical porous carbon exhibited significant specific capacitance in different types of electrolytes. Supercapacitors based on these hierarchical porous carbons demonstrated high energy density and power density, showing great potential for applications.
ACS APPLIED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Eleanor J. Berryman, Dogan Paktunc, David Kingston, Johan P. Beukes
Summary: This study investigates the presence of Cr(VI) in the dust generated during ferrochrome production. Cr(VI) was found in both the dust collected from within the furnace and the dust collected along the off-gas handling stream. Glassy spherules are the major phase hosting Cr(VI), and the finer-grained off-gas dusts have higher concentrations of Cr(VI). The results highlight the importance of improving dust-capture systems to target finer fractions of dust.
CLEANER ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
