How to turn tailings into treasure? Improving the comprehensive utilization of resources is the key
This summer, many places in our country experienced heavy rainfall, and the flood control situation was extremely severe. Under heavy rainfall, industrial solid waste mainly composed of tailings may cause leakage, deformation, collapse and other safety accidents, posing threats to surrounding areas
This summer, many places in our country experienced heavy rainfall, and the flood control situation was extremely severe. Under heavy rainfall, industrial solid waste mainly composed of tailings may cause leakage, deformation, collapse and other safety accidents, posing threats to surrounding areas and personnel. How to effectively and comprehensively utilize these wastes, turn waste into treasure, solve a series of ecological environment and safety production risk problems in tailings ponds, and achieve sustainable development of the mining industry deserves attention.
Tailings refer to components produced in mineral processing operations with low content of useful components and currently cannot be used for industrial production. They usually contain a certain amount of valuable metals, non-metals and other useful components. If they can be effectively recycled, they will Produce good economic and social benefits. However, the premise is that the tailings must be handled safely and reliably, otherwise it will cause serious pollution and damage to the environment, and even threaten human life.
At present, the main method of processing tailings is to stockpile tailings in tailings ponds. Stockpiling will occupy a large amount of agricultural and forestry land and destroy the allocation of land resources in the area where it is located. According to statistics, there are nearly 8,000 tailings ponds in my country, ranking first in the world in total, but the comprehensive utilization rate is only about 10%, which is far lower than the more than 40% in developed countries. These tailings ponds contain a variety of non-ferrous metals, rare earths, precious metals, scattered elements, etc., which can cause heavy metal soil pollution, as well as non-metallic minerals such as quartz, feldspar, calcite, and dolomite. However, due to the dispersion, complexity, low grade and other characteristics of tailings pond resources, as well as technical, economic, environmental and other constraints, development and utilization are relatively difficult. Some mine processing plants in remote areas or small processing plants in towns and villages will also discharge tailings directly into the natural environment, causing serious damage to the environment. It can be seen that the traditional mining solid waste management ideas can no longer meet the needs of ecological civilization construction, and the management ideas must be changed in time to consume tailings through a variety of comprehensive utilization methods.
To effectively improve the comprehensive utilization rate of tailings resources, it is necessary to clarify the attributes of tailings resources and understand the background of tailings resources. Conduct a survey and evaluation of mine tailings resources across the country to find out the comprehensive utilization characteristics of solid waste such as the storage volume, storage location, mineral composition and chemical composition; establish a national mine tailings database to provide data support for the comprehensive utilization of tailings. With these basic works, it is possible to scientifically determine which tailings have the value of re-selection or comprehensive utilization, and which tailings need to be harmlessly treated or disposed of.
Tailings grading and classification methods and corresponding application evaluation standards should also be established to increase investment in research on key technologies to enhance bulk utilization and high-value utilization of tailings. Based on many factors such as tailings resource attributes, environmental impact, development and utilization technical conditions, etc., establish a tailings classification and classification standard system to maximize the utilization and protection of resources; carry out application standard research on the bulk utilization of tailings in the construction industry, Strengthen technical research on graded gradient utilization of tailings, collaborative utilization of tailings, and high-value utilization of tailings, improve the economic benefits of tailings utilization, expand tailings utilization methods, expand the regional radius of tailings utilization, and thereby improve tailings utilization in an all-round way overall comprehensive utilization level.
At the same time, technological innovation and promotion must also be strengthened. Technology development and application should be carried out for different types and characteristics of tailings to break through some key technical problems, such as tailings recovery, separation, enrichment, purification, etc.; the transformation and promotion of technological achievements should be strengthened, and technology promotion mechanisms and incentive policies should be established , encourage enterprises to adopt advanced tailings comprehensive utilization technology and improve the level and coverage of technology application.
Changing the mindset of mining solid waste pollution control also requires more policy support and improvement of relevant laws, regulations and supervision systems. It is necessary to formulate and improve laws, regulations and standards related to the comprehensive utilization of tailings, clarify the rights and obligations of all parties, and standardize the behaviors and responsibilities of all parties; strengthen the safety supervision and environmental monitoring of tailings ponds, prevent and eliminate safety hazards, control and Reduce environmental pollution; strengthen quality supervision and effect evaluation of comprehensive utilization of tailings, ensure product quality and service levels, and promote industrial development.
Source: China Environment