Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Experimental study on solidification of uranium tailings by microbial grouting combined with electroosmosis

  • Jinxiang Deng (School of Resource & Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China) ;
  • Mengjie Li (School of Resource & Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China) ;
  • Yakun Tian (School of Resource & Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China) ;
  • Lingling Wu (School of Resource & Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China) ;
  • Lin Hu (School of Resource & Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China) ;
  • Zhijun Zhang (School of Resource & Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China) ;
  • Huaimiao Zheng (Hunan Province & Hengyang City Engineering Technology Research Center for Disaster Prediction and Control on Mining Geotechnical Engineering)
  • Received : 2023.04.13
  • Accepted : 2023.08.20
  • Published : 2023.12.25
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Abstract

The present microbial reinforcement of rock and soil exhibits limitations, such as uneven reinforcement effectiveness and low calcium carbonate generation rate, resulting in limited solidification strength. This study introduces electroosmosis as a standard microbial grouting reinforcement technique and investigates its solidification effects on microbial-reinforced uranium tailings. The most effective electroosmosis effect on uranium tailings occurs under a potential gradient of 1.25 V/cm. The findings indicate that a weak electric field can effectively promote microbial growth and biological activity and accelerate bacterial metabolism. The largest calcium carbonate production occurred under the gradient of 0.5 V/cm, featuring a good crystal combination and the best cementation effect. Staged electroosmosis and electrode conversion efficiently drive the migration of anions and cations. Under electroosmosis, the cohesion of uranium tailings reinforced by microorganisms increased by 37.3% and 64.8% compared to those reinforced by common microorganisms and undisturbed uranium tailings, respectively. The internal friction angle is also improved, significantly enhancing the uniformity of reinforcement and a denser and stronger microscopic structure. This research demonstrates that MICP technology enhances the solidification effects and uniformity of uranium tailings, providing a novel approach to maintaining the safety and stability of uranium tailings dams.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers: 52274167), the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (grant numbers: 2022JJ40374, 2023JJ30516), the Research Foundation of Education Bureau of Hunan Province (grant numbers: 22B0410, 20B496), the Hengyang City Science and Technology Program Project Funding (grant numbers: 202150063769), the Hunan Province's technology research project "Revealing the List and Taking Command" (grant numbers: 2021SK1050), the Postgraduate Scientific Research Innovation Project of Hunan Province (grant numbers: CX20230948).

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