Processing of iron-ore waste from enrichment plants

Abstract

Existing processing technologies for iron-ore wastes are analyzed. For the Kemorovo region, it makes sense to employ a processing technology with products corresponding to local requirements. Effective technologies may be combined to meet the full set of requirements. The formulation of waste-processing options is considered. Various proposals are developed for stepwise processing of iron-ore wastes, with the extraction of useful components by chemical methods, restoration of the damaged landscape, and the creation of recreation areas on the reclaimed land. Recommendations are developed for year-round processing of iron-ore wastes by chemical methods, even in winter. Maps are presented for the processing of ore tailings, with stepwise restoration of the reclaimed land. The number of stages selected will depend on the investment required and the annual throughput of the waste-processing system, with the possibility of simultaneous restoration of several sections. After complete removal of the iron-ore wastes from the tailings stores, preparations begin for the development of recreation areas: offers are solicited for the design of the recreation zones, the dismantling and sale of equipment, buildings, and other structures, the restoration of the ground cover, laying of turf, and planting of trees and shrubs. Restoration of the territory may run in parallel with processing of the waste. The recreation areas go into operation after the elimination of the waste. Scilab software is used for mathematical simulation of the waste-processing proposals for the Kemerovo region, with evaluation of its effectiveness in the following terms: economic benefit; restoration of damaged land; pollutant burden; population of the affected regions with standard socioeconomic indices; and prevention of public-health impairments. By graphical means, the Pareto-optimal solutions are selected from among the various proposals. The best Pareto-optimal solutions are selected on the basis of ranking in terms of public health and environmental safety (low, moderate, and high) in the Kemerovo region.