Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP), a solidification/stabilization technique that doesn't interfere with recycling and can reduce the migration of pollutants, has been employed to cement rare earth slags (RES). Currently, the MICP process of the urease/carbonic anhydrase pathway has attracted considerable attention. However, the MICP process of the urease pathway may produce high concentrations of ammonia, which can cause secondary contamination; the addition of a calcium source (calcium chloride) may increase the cost of the treatment process. In this study, two factors, carbonic anhydrase bacteria and endogenous calcium ions (Ca²⁺), facilitated the MICP technology to cost-effectively and harmlessly cement RES and stabilize contaminants. The findings indicated that strain Z1 could utilize endogenous Ca²⁺ to cement the RES, thereby enhancing its unconfined compressive strength, reducing the disintegration rate, radiation dose, and wind erosion intensity, and facilitating the stabilization of heavy metals and radionuclides. In comparison to the CK group, the leaching concentrations of Cu2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Th(Ⅳ), and U(Ⅵ) in the C1 group were reduced by 42.37 %, 20.20 %, 18.77 %, 22.53 %, 12.32 %, and 23.66 %, respectively. The treatment effect can be further enhanced by adding exogenous Ca2+. This study's findings can help reduce the potential environmental risks in the long-term sequestration of RES, while also providing technical support for the sustainable development of the rare earth industry.
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