Mine Tailings Valorization by Electrochemically Stimulated Mineralization from Mildly Acidic Conditions

Ivy Wu; Irene Walker; Robert Bell; Kerry Rippy

doi:10.1021/acssusresmgt.5c00349

Mine Tailings Valorization by Electrochemically Stimulated Mineralization from Mildly Acidic Conditions

Ivy Wu
, Irene Walker
, Robert Bell
, Kerry Rippy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study presents a high-efficiency electrochemical process for the mineralization of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) from mildly acidic mine tailing supernatant water. Electrochemical pH control was used to promote carbonate speciation and precipitation from CO2-saturated solutions, achieving >1 mol CaCO3 precipitated per mol e- at applied potentials between -1.4 and -1.6 V vs Ag/AgCl. Product morphology and polymorph selectivity were tunable via applied potential, yielding calcite and vaterite phases. Experiments using real mine tailings water confirmed selective calcite precipitation, despite the presence of sulfate and other trace elements. These results highlight a viable route for coupling CO2 utilization with mine tailings valorization.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	76-83
Number of pages	8
Journal	ACS Sustainable Resource Management
Volume	3
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acssusresmgt.5c00349
State	Published - 2026

NLR Publication Number

NLR/JA-5500-92877

Keywords

carbon utilization
electrochemical pH swing
mineralization
mining
valorization

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10.1021/acssusresmgt.5c00349

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title = "Mine Tailings Valorization by Electrochemically Stimulated Mineralization from Mildly Acidic Conditions",

abstract = "This study presents a high-efficiency electrochemical process for the mineralization of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) from mildly acidic mine tailing supernatant water. Electrochemical pH control was used to promote carbonate speciation and precipitation from CO2-saturated solutions, achieving >1 mol CaCO3 precipitated per mol e- at applied potentials between -1.4 and -1.6 V vs Ag/AgCl. Product morphology and polymorph selectivity were tunable via applied potential, yielding calcite and vaterite phases. Experiments using real mine tailings water confirmed selective calcite precipitation, despite the presence of sulfate and other trace elements. These results highlight a viable route for coupling CO2 utilization with mine tailings valorization.",

keywords = "carbon utilization, electrochemical pH swing, mineralization, mining, valorization",

author = "Ivy Wu and Irene Walker and Robert Bell and Kerry Rippy",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1021/acssusresmgt.5c00349",

language = "American English",

volume = "3",

pages = "76--83",

journal = "ACS Sustainable Resource Management",

issn = "2837-1445",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Mine Tailings Valorization by Electrochemically Stimulated Mineralization from Mildly Acidic Conditions

AU - Wu, Ivy

AU - Walker, Irene

AU - Bell, Robert

AU - Rippy, Kerry

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - This study presents a high-efficiency electrochemical process for the mineralization of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) from mildly acidic mine tailing supernatant water. Electrochemical pH control was used to promote carbonate speciation and precipitation from CO2-saturated solutions, achieving >1 mol CaCO3 precipitated per mol e- at applied potentials between -1.4 and -1.6 V vs Ag/AgCl. Product morphology and polymorph selectivity were tunable via applied potential, yielding calcite and vaterite phases. Experiments using real mine tailings water confirmed selective calcite precipitation, despite the presence of sulfate and other trace elements. These results highlight a viable route for coupling CO2 utilization with mine tailings valorization.

AB - This study presents a high-efficiency electrochemical process for the mineralization of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) from mildly acidic mine tailing supernatant water. Electrochemical pH control was used to promote carbonate speciation and precipitation from CO2-saturated solutions, achieving >1 mol CaCO3 precipitated per mol e- at applied potentials between -1.4 and -1.6 V vs Ag/AgCl. Product morphology and polymorph selectivity were tunable via applied potential, yielding calcite and vaterite phases. Experiments using real mine tailings water confirmed selective calcite precipitation, despite the presence of sulfate and other trace elements. These results highlight a viable route for coupling CO2 utilization with mine tailings valorization.

KW - carbon utilization

KW - electrochemical pH swing

KW - mineralization

KW - mining

KW - valorization

U2 - 10.1021/acssusresmgt.5c00349

DO - 10.1021/acssusresmgt.5c00349

M3 - Article

SN - 2837-1445

VL - 3

SP - 76

EP - 83

JO - ACS Sustainable Resource Management

JF - ACS Sustainable Resource Management

IS - 1

ER -

Mine Tailings Valorization by Electrochemically Stimulated Mineralization from Mildly Acidic Conditions

Abstract

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Keywords

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