Detail Abstract

Solutions in order to prevent the radioactive pollution on the water source in the rare earth ore mining and processing

Abstract

Water source is one of environmental components effected very strongly by mineral mining and processing. Most of the mineral mining released the acid mine drainage (AMD) and mineral beneficiation has been maintaining an amount volume of wastewater from the mineral concentration and hydrometallurgical processing. Along with various heavy metals, sometimes AMD contains different radioactive materials from rare earth ore mining and processing, because of most rare earth deposits content the radionuclides in Uranium (²³⁸U) and Thorium (²³²Th) decay series and radioactive potassium isotope (⁴⁰K) which mostly originate naturally from rocks and soil. Mining and using rare earth elements (REEs) become essential demand and very rivalry in the Industry Revolution 4.0 and rare earth ore resources play a strategy role for the modern technologies of the industry countries. Unfortunately, rare earth ore mining and processing procedures constitute destructions on the earth’s land and destabilize soil and water ecosystems. Otherwise, the technological mining of ion-absorption clay (solution mining) may be low REE recovery (up to 5%), groundwater contamination, an increase in soil and water pH, and nutrient pollution of downstream rivers. Alarmingly, some of these human health and environmental impacts are irreversible and persistent even after reclamation of the mine site.<br> Vietnam is a country having abundant potential resource of rare earth ore in the world. The geological exploration projects of rare earth mineral have been implemented since 60^th decade last century in Vietnam. In recent years, some rare earth ore mining projects were studied and prepared to extract and use REEs. The pre-mining projects of rare earth deposit have concerned particularly to environmental protection issue. In addition to the presenting an overview of methods to prevent radioactive pollution, this study presents some initiate experimental results of U and Th separation and radioactive wastewater treatment in Vietnam.