Strength of phosphogypsum mixed with nepheline slime in construction of embankments of gypsum ponds

The article discusses application of phosphogypsum and its mixtures with alumina plant waste in construction of embankments of gypsum ponds. This is a live issue in the chemical industry. Development of specifications for phosphogypsum to be used in waterworks construction requires compilation of databases on physical and mechanical properties of this material. In terms of Metakhim’s gypsum pond (Volkhov, Leningrad Region), the conformity of phosphogypsum and nepheline slime with waterworks design standards is evaluated, and the quality performance of phosphogypsum in bodies of embankments as per project requirements is determined in terms of optimal moisture content, maximum density and strength. The engineering geological estimation of mining waste used as tightening weight of a dam of a gypsum pond is obtained using drilling records, field studies and laboratory test data. The main determinative factors of the physical and mechanical properties of phosphogypsum and its mixtures with nepheline slime in the body of tightening weight are identified. It is found that shear resistance of phosphogypsum depends on percentage of nepheline slime and on moisture content. It is recommended that project designs include activities aimed to prevent water saturation of phosphogypsum in embankments of operating gypsum ponds.

Kutepova N.A., Kutepov Yu. I., Kudashov E. S., Daniliev S. M. Strength of phosphogypsum mixed with nepheline slime in construction of embankments of gypsum ponds. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2020;(10):67-78. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2020-100-67-78.

N.A. Kutepova¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Chief Researcher, e-mail: koutepovy@mail.ru,
Yu.I. Kutepov¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Head of Laboratory, e-mail: koutepovy@mail.ru,
E.S. Kudashov¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, e-mail: eskudasov@mail.ru,
S.M. Daniliev¹, Cand. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), A ssistant Professor, e-mail: daniliev@mail.ru,
¹ Saint-Petersburg Mining University, 199106, Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

E.S. Kudashov, e-mail: eskudashov@mail.ru.

1. Dasic G. Development of hazardous waste management system, including the identification and management of «hot spot sites» in Croatia. Zagreb: PHARE, 2009. 49 p.

2. Conklin C. Potential uses of phosphogypsum and associated risks. Background information document. Washington: Florida Institute of Phosphate Research, 1992. 114 p.

3. Gennari R. F., Garcia I., Medina N. H., Silveira M.A. G. Phosphogypsum analysis: total content and extractable element concentrations. International Nuclear Atlantic Conference. 2011, p. 9.

4. Ivanitskiy V. V., Klassen P. V., Novikov A.A. Fosfogips i ego ispol'zovanie [Phosphogypsum and its usage], Moscow, Khimiya, 1990, 224 p.

5. Fosfogips: khranenie i napravleniya ispol'zovaniya kak krupnotonnazhnogo vtorichnogo syr'ya: materialy Vtoroy mezhdunarodnoy konferentsii [Phosphogypsum: storage and uses as bulk secondary raw material], Moscow, OAO «NIUIF», 2010, 192 p.

6. Papageorgiou F., Godelitsas A., Mertzimekis T. J. et al. Environmental impact of phosphogypsum stockpile in remediated Schistos waste site (Piraeus, Greece) using a combination of -ray spectrometry with geographic information systems. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 2016. No 188, available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10661-0165136-3#citeas (accessed 12.01.2020).

7. Ali K. K., Awad Y. Dh. Radiological assessment of Iraqi phosphorites and phosphate fertilizers. Arabic Journal of Geoscience. 2015. Vol. 8. No 11. Pp. 9481—9488.

8. Metodicheskie rekomendatsii po primeneniyu fosfodigidrata sul'fata kal'tsiya pri stroitel'stve avtomobil'nykh dorog [Methodological recommendations on the application of pho sphodihydrate calcium sulfate for highway construction], Moscow, SOYUZDORNII, 1989, 15 p.

9. Rekomendatsii po ustroystvu raschetnykh sloev dorozhnykh odezhd iz fosfogipsa dorozhnogo. STO 24406528-01-2016. Standart organizatsii AO «Apatit» [Recommendations for configuration of road revetments’ designed layers from phosphogypsum. STO 24406528-01-2016. PJSC «Apatit» company standart].

10. Kudashov E. S. Inzhenerno-geologicheskoe obosnovanie ustoychivosti namyvnykh gipsonakopiteley [Engineering-geological justification of aggradational phosphogypsum dispoals’ sta-bility], Candidate’s thesis, Saint-Petersburg, NMSU «Gornyy», 2015, 210 p.

11. Kutepova N.A., Kutepov Yu. I., Ivochkina M.A., Kudashov E. S., Legina E. E.Engineering-geological characteristic of hydraulic-fill phosphor-gypsum as a material for construction of gypsum-storage barriers. Izvestiya vserossiyskogo nauchno-issledovatel'skogo instituta gidrotekhniki im. B.E. Vedeneeva. 2014, vol. 274, pp. 85—95. [In Russ].

12. Kutepova N.A., Kutepov Yu. I., Kudashov E. S. Substantiation of phosphogypsum optimum physicomechanical characteristics when used to build gypsum stockpiling levee. Marksheyderiya i nedropol'zovanie. 2014, no 6 (74), pp. 60—62. [In Russ].

13. Plotiny iz gruntovykh materialov. SP 39.13330.2012 [Rock fill dams. SP 39.13330.2012].

14. Zemlyanye sooruzheniya, osnovaniya i fundamenty. SP 45.13330.2012 [Earthworks, grounds and footings. SP 45.13330.2017].

15. Meshcheryakov I. V. Appliance of nepheline sludge for highway construction. Sovremennye nauchnye issledovaniya i innovatsii. 2012, no 10, available at: http://web.snauka.ru/ issues/2012/10/17755 (accessed 07.02.2019).

16. Mukharryanov I. R. Issues concerning the use of nepheline sludge in road constructions. Vestnik grazhdanskikh inzhenerov. 2017, no 1 (60), pp. 192—197. [In Russ].

17. Shepelev I. I., Zhizhaev A. M., Bochkov N. N. Alumina production waste used to improve inorganic cement service properties. Vestnik Tomskogo Gosudarstvennogo ArkhitekturnoStroitel'nogo Universiteta. 2015, no 1, pp. 182—193. [In Russ].

18. Shepelev I. I., Styglits I. S., Es'kova E. N., Zhizhaev A. M. The research of chemical and toxic properties nepheline slime with the purpose of their use in the agriculture. Vestnik KrasGAU. 2016, no 2, pp. 13—18. [In Russ].

19. Grunty. Metod laboratornogo opredeleniya maksimal'noy plotnosti. Mezhgosudarstvennyy standart GOST 22733-2016 [Soils. Laboratory method for determining of maximum density. Interstate standard GOST 22733-2016].

20. Grunty. Metody laboratornogo opredeleniya fizicheskikh kharakteristik. Mezhgosudarstvennyy standart GOST 5180-2015 [Soils. Laboratory methods for determination of physical characteristics. Interstate standard GOST 5180-2015].

21. Grunty. Metody laboratornogo opredeleniya kharakteristik prochnosti i deformiruemosti. Mezhgosudarstvennyy standart GOST 12248-2010 [Soils. Laboratory methods for determining the strength and strain characteristics. Interstate standard GOST 12248-2010].

22. Grunty. Klassifikatsiya (s popravkami). Mezhgosudarstvennyy standart GOST 25100-2011 [Soils. Classification (with amendments). Interstate standard GOST 25100-2011].

23. Bituh T., Petrinec B., Skoko B., Vucic Z., Markovic G. Measurement and modeling of the radiological impact of the phosphogypsum deposition site on the environment. Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology. 2015. No 66. Pp. 31—40.

24. Kayode O. T., Odukoya A. M., Adagunodo T.A., Adeniji A.A. Monitoring of seepages around dams using geophysical methods: a brief review. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science. 2018. No 173. Pp. 1—8.