Application of a vegetative cover on phosphogypsum stacks

Komnitsas, K; Lazar, I; Petrisor, IG

dc.contributor.author	Komnitsas, K	en
dc.contributor.author	Lazar, I	en
dc.contributor.author	Petrisor, IG	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T01:14:24Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T01:14:24Z
dc.date.issued	1999	en
dc.identifier.issn	0892-6875	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/13055
dc.subject	Environmental	en
dc.subject	Pollution	en
dc.subject	Reclamation	en
dc.subject	Tailings	en
dc.subject.classification	Engineering, Chemical	en
dc.subject.classification	Mineralogy	en
dc.subject.classification	Mining & Mineral Processing	en
dc.subject.other	Environmental engineering	en
dc.subject.other	Land reclamation	en
dc.subject.other	Phosphate mines	en
dc.subject.other	Revegetation	en
dc.subject.other	Tailings disposal	en
dc.subject.other	Phosphogypsum stacks	en
dc.subject.other	Vegetative cover	en
dc.subject.other	Remediation	en
dc.title	Application of a vegetative cover on phosphogypsum stacks	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.identifier.primary	10.1016/S0892-6875(98)00130-7	en
heal.identifier.secondary	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0892-6875(98)00130-7	en
heal.language	English	en
heal.publicationDate	1999	en
heal.abstract	The treatment of phosphates for the production of phosphoric acid and fertilisers at Navodari, Romania, has resulted in the production of over 3,000,000 m(3) of phosphogypsum, which have been disposed of in three stacks over an. area of 40 ha. An environmental characterisation study followed by a risk assessment analysis performed on a source-pathway-target basis has shown that phosphogypsum is characterised by residual acidity, elevated concentrations of sulphates, heavy metals and radionuclides and due to the lack of a vegetative cover aerial transportation of fine particles as well as solubilisation and migration of heavy and radioactive elements occurs contaminating surrounding soils, surface and ground waters. Therefore the application of a remediation scheme is considered necessary in order to prevent further contamination of the ecosystem in the area. The establishment of a vegetative cover on phosphogypsum stacks is considered as a viable option for the prevention of future environmental impacts. In this paper, the experimental work conducted in order to study the establishment of a vegetative cover on phosphogypsum stacks is presented and discussed. The major part of this work is focused on the study of glasshouse pot experiments testing a number of herbaceous species and bushes which show tolerance and a potential for growth in such environments. Modification of substrates, in order to increase soil pH, add nutrients in. the system and in general to provide the optimum growth characteristics for the species planted, was performed by mixing phosphogypsum tailings with several additives such as dolomite, kaolin, sewage sludge and clean soil in various modifications. Preliminary experimental data show that several perennial species and bushes tested show an excellent growth potential and can be used for the establishment of an in situ vegetative cover. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.	en
heal.publisher	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD	en
heal.journalName	Minerals Engineering	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1016/S0892-6875(98)00130-7	en
dc.identifier.isi	ISI:000078633800004	en
dc.identifier.volume	12	en
dc.identifier.issue	2	en
dc.identifier.spage	175	en
dc.identifier.epage	185	en