Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 May 23;195(6):711.
doi: 10.1007/s10661-023-11306-6.

Use of limekiln dust in the stabilization of heavy metals in Ghanaian gold oxide ore mine tailings

Michelle Mimi Vandyck  1 , Emmanuel Kwesi Arthur  1 , Emmanuel Gikunoo  2 , Frank Ofori Agyemang  1 , Bennetta Koomson  1 , Gordon Foli  3 , Douglas Siaw Baah  4
Affiliations

Use of limekiln dust in the stabilization of heavy metals in Ghanaian gold oxide ore mine tailings

Michelle Mimi Vandyck et al. Environ Monit Assess. .

Abstract

Remedial action for heavy metal-contaminated soils is imperative for preventing heavy metal leachability and minimizing environmental risks. This study evaluated the use of limekiln dust (LKD) as a heavy metal stabilization agent for Ghanaian gold mine oxide ore tailing material. Heavy metal-laden tailing material (Fe, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Hg) was collected from a tailing dam site in Ghana. Stabilization was done using acid neutralization capacity (ANC) and citric acid test (CAT) while all chemical characterization was done using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. Various physicochemical parameters including pH, EC, and temperature were also measured. The contaminated soils were amended with LKD in doses of 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt.%. The results revealed that the contaminated soils had concentrations of heavy metals above FAO/WHO stipulated limits of 350, 35, 36, 0.8, and 0.3 mg/kg for Fe, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Hg, respectively. After 28 days of curing, 20 wt.% of LKD was found to be appropriate for the remediation of the mine tailings of all the heavy metals studied except Cd. Ten percent of the LKD was noticed to be enough in remedying soil contaminated with Cd since the Cd's concentration reduced from 9.1 to 0.0 mg/kg with a stabilizing efficiency of 100% and a leaching factor of 0.0. Therefore, remediation of contaminated soils of Fe, Cu, Ni, Cd, and Hg with LKD is safe and environmentally friendly.

Keywords: Acid neutralization capacity; Citric acid test; Heavy metal stabilization; Limekiln dust; Mining.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Abbas, M., Parveen, Z., Iqbal, M., Riazuddin, M., Iqbal, S., Ahmed, M., & Bhutto, R. (2010). Monitoring of toxic metals (cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury) in vegetables of Sindh, Pakistan. Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology, 6, 60–65. - DOI
    1. Abdulhamid, Z., Agbaji, E., Gimba, C., & Agbaji, A. (2015). Physicochemical parameters and heavy metals content of soil samples from farms in Minna. International Letters of Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy, 58, 154–163. - DOI
    1. Abrahim, G., & Parker, R. (2008). Assessment of heavy metal enrichment factors and the degree of contamination in marine sediments from Tamaki Estuary, Auckland, New Zealand. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 136, 227–238. - DOI
    1. Albretsen, J. (2006). The toxicity of iron, an essential element. Veterinary Medicine-Bonner Springs Then Edwardsville-, 101, 82.
    1. Ampadu, E. K. (2013). Investigation of the x-ray shielding properties of concrete containing lime kiln dust. University of Ghana.

LinkOut - more resources