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Article

A Novel Solution to Avoid Mercury Emissions Produced by Highly Contaminated Demolition Debris in Mining Site

by
Rafael Rodríguez
1,*,
Zenaida Hernández
2,
Begoña Fernández
3 and
Marc Bascompta
4
1
Department of Mining Exploitation and Prospecting, School of Mining, Energy and Materials Engineering, University of Oviedo, C/Independencia 13, 33004 Oviedo, Spain
2
Recuperación y Renovación SL, C/Santa Susana 29, 33007 Oviedo, Spain
3
Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, School of Mining, Energy and Materials Engineering, University of Oviedo, Independencia 13, 33004 Oviedo, Spain
4
Department of Mining, Industrial and ICT Engineering, Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), Av. Bases de Manresa, 61-73, 08242 Manresa, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Environments 2023, 10(11), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10110187
Submission received: 19 August 2023 / Revised: 18 October 2023 / Accepted: 25 October 2023 / Published: 30 October 2023

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) emissions into the air can in some cases be a critical problem for public health and environmental protection. Hence, it is crucial to find cost-effective solutions to tackle this issue. An innovative solution is presented in this study using two case studies, diminishing drastically the emissions through covering high Hg-contaminated debris with industrial subproducts (fly-ashes and blast furnace slags). This solution is compared with other two conventional alternatives: (1) removal of the debris to an authorized landfill and (2) in situ encapsulation. The analysis is carried out by comparing costs, carbon footprint and the Environmental–Social–Governance (ESG) impact. It has been noted that the solution proposed has some advantages with respect to conventional alternatives, from both economic and environmental points of view, presenting lower costs and a lower carbon footprint. The worst solution is to remove the debris for ex situ treatment, while the encapsulation represents a middle solution with advantages and disadvantages. The findings of the study can be a step forward in the usage of industrial subproducts, that are currently placed in waste disposal, to solve the problem of sites contaminated by mercury and eliminate its emissions.
Keywords: mercury; abandoned mines; mercury emissions; air contamination; physical remediation; in situ capping; sustainability mercury; abandoned mines; mercury emissions; air contamination; physical remediation; in situ capping; sustainability

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Rodríguez, R.; Hernández, Z.; Fernández, B.; Bascompta, M. A Novel Solution to Avoid Mercury Emissions Produced by Highly Contaminated Demolition Debris in Mining Site. Environments 2023, 10, 187. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10110187

AMA Style

Rodríguez R, Hernández Z, Fernández B, Bascompta M. A Novel Solution to Avoid Mercury Emissions Produced by Highly Contaminated Demolition Debris in Mining Site. Environments. 2023; 10(11):187. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10110187

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rodríguez, Rafael, Zenaida Hernández, Begoña Fernández, and Marc Bascompta. 2023. "A Novel Solution to Avoid Mercury Emissions Produced by Highly Contaminated Demolition Debris in Mining Site" Environments 10, no. 11: 187. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10110187

APA Style

Rodríguez, R., Hernández, Z., Fernández, B., & Bascompta, M. (2023). A Novel Solution to Avoid Mercury Emissions Produced by Highly Contaminated Demolition Debris in Mining Site. Environments, 10(11), 187. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10110187

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